IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i3p794-d136049.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Benefits of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Functions in Arable Production Systems in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Bhim Bahadur Ghaley

    (Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegård Alle 30, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark)

  • Teodor Rusu

    (Department of Technical and Soil Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Taru Sandén

    (Department of Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Spargelfeldstrasse 191, A-1220 Vienna, Austria)

  • Heide Spiegel

    (Department of Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Spargelfeldstrasse 191, A-1220 Vienna, Austria)

  • Cristina Menta

    (Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy)

  • Giovanna Visioli

    (Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124 Parma, Italy)

  • Lilian O’Sullivan

    (Teagasc Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, Co., Wexford Y35 Y521, Ireland)

  • Isabelle Trinsoutrot Gattin

    (UniLaSalle Campus Rouen, AGHYLE UP 2018-C1013 Rue du Tronquet, 76130 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France)

  • Antonio Delgado

    (Department of Agroforestry Sciences, University of Sevilla, Ctra Utrera km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain)

  • Mark A. Liebig

    (USDA-ARS, Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 459, Mandan, ND 58554-0459, USA)

  • Dirk Vrebos

    (Ecosystem management research group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1c, B2610 Antwerpen, Belgium)

  • Tamas Szegi

    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Szent Istvan University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary)

  • Erika Michéli

    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Szent Istvan University, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary)

  • Horia Cacovean

    (Office for Pedologic and Agrochemical Studies, Cluj, 1 Fagului Street, 400483 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Christian Bugge Henriksen

    (Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Højbakkegård Alle 30, 2630 Taastrup, Denmark)

Abstract

Conventional farming (CONV) is the norm in European farming, causing adverse effects on some of the five major soil functions, viz. primary productivity, carbon sequestration and regulation, nutrient cycling and provision, water regulation and purification, and habitat for functional and intrinsic biodiversity. Conservation agriculture (CA) is an alternative to enhance soil functions. However, there is no analysis of CA benefits on the five soil functions as most studies addressed individual soil functions. The objective was to compare effects of CA and CONV practices on the five soil functions in four major environmental zones (Atlantic North, Pannonian, Continental and Mediterranean North) in Europe by applying expert scoring based on synthesis of existing literature. In each environmental zone, a team of experts scored the five soil functions due to CA and CONV treatments and median scores indicated the overall effects on five soil functions. Across the environmental zones, CONV had overall negative effects on soil functions with a median score of 0.50 whereas CA had overall positive effects with median score ranging from 0.80 to 0.83. The study proposes the need for field-based investigations, policies and subsidy support to benefit from CA adoption to enhance the five soil functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhim Bahadur Ghaley & Teodor Rusu & Taru Sandén & Heide Spiegel & Cristina Menta & Giovanna Visioli & Lilian O’Sullivan & Isabelle Trinsoutrot Gattin & Antonio Delgado & Mark A. Liebig & Dirk Vrebos &, 2018. "Assessment of Benefits of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Functions in Arable Production Systems in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:794-:d:136049
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/3/794/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/3/794/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. András Vargha & Harold D. Delaney, 1998. "The Kruskal-Wallis Test and Stochastic Homogeneity," Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, , vol. 23(2), pages 170-192, June.
    2. Knowler, Duncan & Bradshaw, Ben, 2007. "Farmers' adoption of conservation agriculture: A review and synthesis of recent research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 25-48, February.
    3. David S. Powlson & Clare M. Stirling & M. L. Jat & Bruno G. Gerard & Cheryl A. Palm & Pedro A. Sanchez & Kenneth G. Cassman, 2014. "Limited potential of no-till agriculture for climate change mitigation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(8), pages 678-683, August.
    4. Cameron M. Pittelkow & Xinqiang Liang & Bruce A. Linquist & Kees Jan van Groenigen & Juhwan Lee & Mark E. Lundy & Natasja van Gestel & Johan Six & Rodney T. Venterea & Chris van Kessel, 2015. "Productivity limits and potentials of the principles of conservation agriculture," Nature, Nature, vol. 517(7534), pages 365-368, January.
    5. Coyle, Cait & Creamer, Rachel E. & Schulte, Rogier P.O. & O'Sullivan, Lilian & Jordan, Phil, 2016. "A Functional Land Management conceptual framework under soil drainage and land use scenarios," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 39-48.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sulav Paudel & Lalit P. Sah & Mukti Devkota & Vijaya Poudyal & P.V. Vara Prasad & Manuel R. Reyes, 2020. "Conservation Agriculture and Integrated Pest Management Practices Improve Yield and Income while Reducing Labor, Pests, Diseases and Chemical Pesticide Use in Smallholder Vegetable Farms in Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Felicia Chețan & Cornel Chețan & Ileana Bogdan & Adrian Ioan Pop & Paula Ioana Moraru & Teodor Rusu, 2021. "The Effects of Management (Tillage, Fertilization, Plant Density) on Soybean Yield and Quality in a Three-Year Experiment under Transylvanian Plain Climate Conditions," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Rui Zhao & Junying Li & Kening Wu & Long Kang, 2021. "Cultivated Land Use Zoning Based on Soil Function Evaluation from the Perspective of Black Soil Protection," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-29, June.
    4. Felicia Cheţan & Teodor Rusu & Roxana Elena Călugăr & Cornel Chețan & Alina Şimon & Adrian Ceclan & Marius Bărdaș & Olimpia Smaranda Mintaș, 2022. "Research on the Interdependence Linkages between Soil Tillage Systems and Climate Factors on Maize Crop," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-14, October.
    5. Magdalena Ruiz & Encarna Zambrana & Rosario Fite & Aida Sole & Jose Luis Tenorio & Elena Benavente, 2019. "Yield and Quality Performance of Traditional and Improved Bread and Durum Wheat Varieties under Two Conservation Tillage Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-22, August.
    6. Katharina Helming & Katrin Daedlow & Bernd Hansjürgens & Thomas Koellner, 2018. "Assessment and Governance of Sustainable Soil Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Maya Sollen-Norrlin & Bhim Bahadur Ghaley & Naomi Laura Jane Rintoul, 2020. "Agroforestry Benefits and Challenges for Adoption in Europe and Beyond," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Felicia Cheţan & Teodor Rusu & Cornel Cheţan & Camelia Urdă & Raluca Rezi & Alina Şimon & Ileana Bogdan, 2022. "Influence of Soil Tillage Systems on the Yield and Weeds Infestation in the Soybean Crop," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, October.
    9. Eros Borsato & Alejandro Galindo & Paolo Tarolli & Luigi Sartori & Francesco Marinello, 2018. "Evaluation of the Grey Water Footprint Comparing the Indirect Effects of Different Agricultural Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Tshering Choden & Bhim Bahadur Ghaley, 2021. "A Portfolio of Effective Water and Soil Conservation Practices for Arable Production Systems in Europe and North Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, March.
    11. Felicia Chețan & Cornel Chețan & Ileana Bogdan & Paula Ioana Moraru & Adrian Ioan Pop & Teodor Rusu, 2022. "Use of Vegetable Residues and Cover Crops in the Cultivation of Maize Grown in Different Tillage Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Francesco Calzarano & Fabio Stagnari & Sara D’Egidio & Giancarlo Pagnani & Angelica Galieni & Stefano Di Marco & Elisa Giorgia Metruccio & Michele Pisante, 2018. "Durum Wheat Quality, Yield and Sanitary Status under Conservation Agriculture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Perego, A. & Rocca, A. & Cattivelli, V. & Tabaglio, V. & Fiorini, A. & Barbieri, S. & Schillaci, C. & Chiodini, M.E. & Brenna, S. & Acutis, M., 2019. "Agro-environmental aspects of conservation agriculture compared to conventional systems: A 3-year experience on 20 farms in the Po valley (Northern Italy)," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 73-87.
    3. Wondimagegn Tesfaye & Garrick Blalock & Nyasha Tirivayi, 2021. "Climate‐Smart Innovations and Rural Poverty in Ethiopia: Exploring Impacts and Pathways," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(3), pages 878-899, May.
    4. Lalani, Baqir & Aminpour, Payam & Gray, Steven & Williams, Meredith & Büchi, Lucie & Haggar, Jeremy & Grabowski, Philip & Dambiro, José, 2021. "Mapping farmer perceptions, Conservation Agriculture practices and on-farm measurements: The role of systems thinking in the process of adoption," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Tambo, J. & Mockshell, J., 2018. "Differential impacts of conservation agriculture technology options on household welfare in sub-Saharan Africa," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277035, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Adam M. Komarek, 2018. "Conservation agriculture in western China increases productivity and profits without decreasing resilience," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(5), pages 1251-1262, October.
    7. Liangang Xiao & Minglei Ding & Chong Wei & Ruiming Zhu & Rongqin Zhao, 2020. "The Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Water Use and Crop Production on the Loess Plateau: From Know-What to Know-Why," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    8. Christian Thierfelder & Pauline Chivenge & Walter Mupangwa & Todd S. Rosenstock & Christine Lamanna & Joseph X. Eyre, 2017. "How climate-smart is conservation agriculture (CA)? – its potential to deliver on adaptation, mitigation and productivity on smallholder farms in southern Africa," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(3), pages 537-560, June.
    9. Ward, Patrick S. & Mapemba, Lawrence & Bell, Andrew R., 2021. "Smart subsidies for sustainable soils: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in southern Malawi," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    10. Tambo, Justice A. & Mockshell, Jonathan, 2018. "Differential Impacts of Conservation Agriculture Technology Options on Household Income in Sub-Saharan Africa," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 95-105.
    11. Kirui, Oliver & Tambo, Justice, 2021. "Yield Effects of Conservation Agriculture Under Fall Armyworm Stress: The Case of Zambia," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315882, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Gao, Li & Zhang, Wendong & Mei, Yingdan & Sam, Abdoul G. & Song, Yu & Jin, Shuqin, 2018. "Do farmers adopt fewer conservation practices on rented land? Evidence from straw retention in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 609-621.
    13. Jing Tian & Jennifer A. J. Dungait & Ruixing Hou & Ye Deng & Iain P. Hartley & Yunfeng Yang & Yakov Kuzyakov & Fusuo Zhang & M. Francesca Cotrufo & Jizhong Zhou, 2024. "Microbially mediated mechanisms underlie soil carbon accrual by conservation agriculture under decade-long warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    14. De los Santos-Montero, Luis A. & Bravo-Ureta, Boris E. & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan & Hasiner, Eva, 2020. "The performance of natural resource management interventions in agriculture: Evidence from alternative meta-regression analyses," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    15. Andrea D Basche & Marcia S DeLonge, 2019. "Comparing infiltration rates in soils managed with conventional and alternative farming methods: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(9), pages 1-22, September.
    16. Andreas Scheba, 2017. "Conservation agriculture and sustainable development in Africa: insights from Tanzania," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 209-219, November.
    17. Qingfeng Han & Kadambot H. M. Siddique & Fengmin Li, 2018. "Adoption of Conservation Tillage on the Semi-Arid Loess Plateau of Northwest China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-16, July.
    18. Jialing Teng & Ruixing Hou & Jennifer A. J. Dungait & Guiyao Zhou & Yakov Kuzyakov & Jingbo Zhang & Jing Tian & Zhenling Cui & Fusuo Zhang & Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, 2024. "Conservation agriculture improves soil health and sustains crop yields after long-term warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    19. Kieran M. Findlater & Terre Satterfield & Milind Kandlikar & Simon D. Donner, 2018. "Six languages for a risky climate: how farmers react to weather and climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 148(4), pages 451-465, June.
    20. Ravjit Khangura & David Ferris & Cameron Wagg & Jamie Bowyer, 2023. "Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-41, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:794-:d:136049. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.