Conservation tillage
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SectorsObjectiveConventional tillage is the traditional method of farming in which soil is prepared for planting by completely inverting it with a tractor-pulled plough, followed by subsequent additional tillage to smooth the soil surface for crop cultivation. In contrast, conservation tillage is a tillage system that conserves soil, water and energy resources through the reduction of tillage intensity and retention of crop residue. Conservation tillage involves the planting, growing and harvesting of crops with limited disturbance to the soil surface.
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SectorsObjectiveAgricultural ecosystems hold large carbon reserves (IPCC, 2001a), mostly in soil organic matter.Historically, these systems have lost more than 50 Pg Carbon, but some of this carbon lost can be recovered through improved management, thereby withdrawing atmospheric CO2 (Paustian et al., 1998; Lal, 1999, 2004a).
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Publication dateObjectiveSectors
The experiences from East and Southern Africa presented in this paper indicate that for smallholder farmers in savannah agro-ecosystems, conservation farming primarily constitutes a water harvesting strategy. It is thus a non-inversion tillage strategy for in situ moisture conservation, rather than one solely aimed at minimum tillage with mulch cover. Challenges for the future adoption of conservation farming in sub-Saharan Africa include how to improve farmer awareness of conservation farming benefits, and how to efficiently incorporate green manure/cover crops and manage weeds.
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Type of National planObjectiveMitigationCountryMoldova
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Type of National planObjectiveAdaptationSectorsCross-sectoral enablerCountryGeorgia
