Sustainable Soil Management Is More than What and How Crops Are Grown - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 358

TABLE 14.2a
How CA Improves Soil Conditions

Key Features of Conservation Agriculture

Components of Soils'
Productive Capacity No-Till Mulch Rotations Legumes

Hydrological 1 4

Physical 2 5 7 10

Biological 3 6 8 11

Chemical 9 12

Note: Key: 1 = Water percolation; 2 = Varied soil porosity; 3 = Favors biological soil layer-
ing; 4 = Buffers impacts of rainfall, wide diurnal ranges of surface temperature; 5 =
Prevents soil crusting; 6 = Source of energy and nutrients; 7 = Augments root chan-
nels—distribution and depth; 8 = Favors biodiversity in soil; 9 = Beneficial root exu-
dates; 10 = Favors development of optimum soil architecture (solids × spaces); 11 =
Nitrogen + C-rich organic matter; 12 = Nitrogen.

TABLE 14.2b
Some Resulting Beneficial Outcomes with CA

For Agricultural Production For Ecosystem Services For Socioeconomic Conditions

Greater security of output
under varying weather
conditions

Diminished water pollution
by agrochemicals and
eroded soil; reduced costs
of water treatment

Greater efficiencies of use of labor
and financial resources

Greater efficiency of
rainwater use, leading to
more stable yields

Less frequency, depth, and
duration of flooding after
unit storms of equal
severity

Better health and nutrition

No/minimal soil erosion;
smaller losses of applied
energy, fertilizers, seeds,
etc.

Longer duration of
streamflow; recharge of
groundwaters

Reduced frequency of flooding
and severity of damages to roads,
bridges, etc.

Improved soil health provides
better biological controls of
weeds and pests

Reduced loss of SOM by
tillage-induced oxidation to
CO 2

More time for diverse activities
on-farm (technical)

Recirculation of carbon,
micronutrients, and
macronutrients

Maintenance/improvement
of soil carbon content

More time for diverse activities
off-farm (social)

Lesser effects of climatic
drought events

Lesser damage to normal
multiple functioning of soil
in wider ecosystem

Etc. Etc. Etc.