Integrating conservation into agriculture

Abstract

The intensification of tillage agriculture has been aimed to increase crop yields. However, this has also been causing degradation of agricultural lands and natural resources. In this regard, Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an alternate paradigm, which integrate the conservation into agriculture and make that regenerative, conserving and resilient than the conventional tillage agriculture. CA is, thus, an ecosystem approach to improve and sustain productivity, and increase profits and resource base. In this chapter, some aspects of conservation that are integrated into agriculture when practicing CA are described. The potential of CA in improving productivity, economic, social and environmental benefits to farmers and the society at large have been discussed.