Integrated Nutrient Management to Promote Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Conservation tillage, encompassing practices such as no-till, reduced tillage, and residue retention, is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone for enhancing soil sustainability in agroecosystems. This review examines the impact of conservation tillage on soil health, carbon sequestration, erosion control, and long-term agricultural productivity, with a focus on addressing global soil degradation challenges. Conventional tillage practices disrupt soil structure, accelerate organic matter loss, and increase vulnerability to erosion and nutrient leaching. In contrast, conservation tillage minimizes soil disturbance, preserves soil organic carbon (SOC), enhances microbial diversity, and improves water infiltration, fostering resilient farming systems. Meta-analyses reveal that conservation tillage can boost SOC stocks by 10 20% over a decade, significantly mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Studies from regions like the Indo-Gangetic Plains and semi-arid Africa demonstrate reduced soil erosion (30–50%) and improved moisture retention under conservation systems, translating to stable crop yields even under climatic stress. For instance, no-till systems in wheat-maize rotations have shown yield increases of 5–15% while reducing fuel and labor costs by 20–30%. Despite these benefits, adoption barriers persist, including initial yield variability, weed management challenges, and limited access to specialized equipment. Socioeconomic factors, such as farmer knowledge gaps and upfront investment costs, further hinder widespread implementation. Policy interventions—subsidies for conservation equipment, farmer education programs, and integration with agroecological practices are critical to scaling adoption.This review underscores conservation tillage’s potential to reconcile agricultural productivity with ecological sustainability. By enhancing soil structure, carbon storage, and climate resilience, it offers a pathway to secure food systems and mitigate land degradation. Future research must address site-specific adaptation strategies and longterm trade-offs to optimize conservation tillage systems for diverse agroclimatic contexts.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788199956032.2026.69-79