Achieving agronomic gain through zero-tillage and/or rice-straw mulching to grow potatoes in Asia: What do we know?

Abstract

The rice-based systems have been recently recognized as the most critical plant source of C emission worldwide. Asia is the continent with higher rice production. Actions to get Sustainable Intensification (SI) of existing lands under rice or changing those by lower C emitter crops like potato will be crucial to mitigate Climate Change. In this systematic revision, 49 studies were filtered to analyze the effect of potato cultivation under zero-tillage and/or organic mulching (with emphasis on rice-straw) (ZTM) in key performance indicators crucial to achieve agronomic gain in Asia. Studies reveal a consensus of the increase in potato yield, profitability, nutrient-use efficiency, and water productivity. This last mainly promoted by the significant conservation of soil moisture under ZTM. There is controversial evidence if ZTM benefits weed control. Even if soil organic matter increases (+13-33%) and no-tillage are remarked as the main factors driving the reduction of C footprint, no values of kg CO2 eq. ha-1 are yet reported in potato under ZTM. Because short rice area (~18%) is used for potato cultivation, this revision calls for the scaling of this technology in local farmers to get a SI in rice-base systems in Asia.