Conservation agriculture for building climate change resilient farming systems
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Citation
Harun Cicek, Hichem Ben Salem. (31/12/2015). Conservation agriculture for building climate change resilient farming systems.
Abstract
ICARDA scientists have been investigating climate
change resilient farming systems for two decades.
Conservation Agriculture (CA) has been found to be one
of the key tools for combating climate change.
ICARDA’s investigations into CA started in 2000 first in
Central Asia, and then extended to North Africa, West
Asia and South Asia. CA is based on three main
principles; i) no or minimum soil disturbance, ii) organic
soil cover and iii) diversified crop rotation.
CA practices have a direct influence on climate
regulation through carbon sequestration and
greenhouse gas emissions, and regulation and
provision of water through soil physical, chemical and
biological properties. Perhaps the most important
benefits of CA for the dry areas are related to better soil
and water retention and storage as compared to
conventional agriculture. Soils under CA have very high
water infiltration capacities reducing surface runoff and
thus soil erosion significantly. This improves the quality
of surface water reducing pollution from soil erosion,
and enhances groundwater resources. Stored soil water
is very helpful during spells of drought.
