Each month, the conservation ag group at Cornell University offers an analysis of the latest scientific papers dealing with conservation agriculture research from around the world. For this on-going web series, our editors will be selecting several research papers from the Cornell list that will be of special interest to North American no-tillers, strip-tillers and cover croppers.

Earthworms as soil health indicators in no-tillage agroecosystems. 

Bartz, M.L.C., Dudas, R.T., Demetrio, W.C. & Brown, G.G. 2024. European Journal of Soil Biology. 121. Article 103605.

Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)’s insight:

Nearly 80% of annual crops in Parana State, Brazil use NT and NT systems (NTS). In addition to NT, NTS sites permanently include minimum soil disturbance, soil cover (straw and living vegetation) and crop rotation and diversification with cover crops. This paper reviews the soil health of NTS related to earthworm populations. Data from 130 sites with NT or NTS, located in 29 counties, of which 93 had biomass and 91 had species richness data, were used to identify the age of these practices on earthworm populations. Abundance was significantly higher in NT than NTS in the initial phase of adoption, and both abundance and biomass decreased with increasing age of NT. Most sites had poor or moderate SH suggesting that improved management is needed to promote earthworm numbers.

No-till farming and climate change mitigation: Lessons learnt from long-term no-till experiments and future perspectives. (Chapter 2) 

Jayaraman, S., Naorem, A., Dalal, R.C., Sinha, N.K., Rao, Ch.S., Lal, R., Kundu, S., Prasad, J.V.N.S. & Singh, A.K. 2024. Advances in Agronomy. 187. 21-107.

Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)’s insight:

This chapter in this reputable book discusses the issues of urbanization, soil degradation, and inappropriate farming practices and the pressure that results on soil, water, and vegetation and subsequently food and nutritional security, and at the same time providing ecosystem services and meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). They discuss the role of No-till (NT) and Conservation Agriculture (CA) is reversing these negative trends. They cite long term experiments that provide information on improving soil health, SOC sequestration, GHG emissions, climate change mitigation, and resource use efficiency all impacting future food security. This chapter discusses the effect of NT/CA on soil health, nutrient stratification, SOC dynamics through modeling, SOC sequestration, GHG emissions, socio-economic condition in adoption and also suggesting the future perspectives on NT and CA.

The impact of ‘T’-shaped furrow opener of no-tillage seeder on straw and soil based on discrete element method. 

Liu, L., Wang, X., Zhang, X., Cheng, X., Wei, Z., Zhou, H. & Zhao, K. 2023. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 213. Article 108278.  

Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)’s insight:

Since equipment suitable for no-till is vital for success, I included this paper from China that looks at the design of a furrow opener where residue is left on the soil. The paper proposes that this opener helps preserve soil moisture and that planted seeds are consistently covered with soil. The implement was tested in a soil bin and also using simulation. The paper provides results on what they found for this furrow opener.

Characterization of soil pores in strip-tilled and conventionally-tilled soil using X-ray computed tomography. 

 Kaur, P., Lamba, J., Way, T.R., Balkcom, K.S., Sanz-Saez, A. & Watts, D.B. 2024. Soil and Tillage Research. 239. Article 106035.

Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)’s insight:

Strip tillage is gaining a lot of attention from farmers in the USA so I chose this article from a study in the USA (Alabama following Cotton) for readers of my CA newsletter. The objective of their study was to assess the effects of different tillage practices including strip tillage on soil pore properties. Undisturbed soil columns were collected during two seasons comparing ST with CT. Overall the study showed that pore morphology can be affected by tillage and seasonal aspects associated with them.

Critical review of the impact of cover crops on soil properties. 

Koudahe, K., Allen, S.C. & Djaman, K. 2022. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. 10 (3) 343-354.

Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)’s insight:

Since cover crops (CC) are gaining acceptance in USA farming together with CA, I decided to add two articles that review the benefits of CC on soil properties. This review article looks at grasses, and broad leaf legume and non-legume as cover crops. It covers single and mixed cover crops and later their impact on soil health. Cover crops may reduce soil bulk density, improve soil structure and hydraulic properties to facilitate increased water infiltration and storage. They review some of the benefits of crop residue additions such as enhancing soil organic C and N accretion, increase availability of P, K, Ca, Fe and Mg in some soil types under certain climatic conditions, provide a better condition for microbial activity, abundance, and diversity and through proper management provide an essential component of soil conservation practices for enhanced soil health.

Understanding farmers’ adoption of conservation tillage in South Dakota: A modified application of the theory of planned behavior. 

Avemegah, E., May, C.K., Ulrich-Schad, J.D., Kovacs, P. & Clark, J.D. 2024. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 79 (1) 31-42.

Cornell Conservation Agriculture Group (soilhealth.org)’s insight:

This article looks at the factors that influence the adoption of conservation tillage in South Dakota. They surveyed 486 commodity crop farming operations. A modified application of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) including controls for socioeconomic and demographic indicators is used to understand farmers’ current usage of CT. Results show that three constructs of the TPB—attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—are positively and significantly correlated with the adoption of CT. Binary logistic regression models also show that attitude and perceived behavioral control are related to farmers’ likelihood of adopting CT. Farm size and farmers’ level of education were also positively associated with CT adoption.