A comparative multidimensional evaluation of conservation agriculture systems: A case study from a Mediterranean area of Southern Italy

Vastola, Antonella Palmina; Zdruli, Pandi; D’Amico, Mario; Pappalardo, Gioacchino; Viccaro, Mauro; Napoli, Francesco; Cozzi, Mario; Romano, Serena

doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.07.034

Cited by 36 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The poor yields observed due to these reasons can often be improved by better customizing the CA system to a particular region or by removing fertility constraints to plant growth to improve residue cover. The yield loss observed in the early years of CA adoption before improvements in SOC and associated structural/fertility improvements occur may also often reverse over time as soil properties and nutrient availability improve and farmers/researchers gain greater skills in managing the CA system (Araya et al, 2012;Soane et al, 2012;Brouder and Gomez-Macpherson, 2014;Pittelkow et al, 2015;Vastola et al, 2017;Steward et al, 2018).…”

Section: Impact On Yield Yield Stability and Farm Profitability Yieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The erosion protection, reduction in soil temperatures and improved infiltration rates, for example, can help deal with more intense rainstorms, and increased daily temperature ranges and frequency of drought (Kassam et al, 2009). In particular, the yield advantage often observed in CA in dry years is likely to provide an advantage in environments where rainfall is, or is becoming, more variable (Vastola et al, 2017). In agreement with this, some analyses have found that CA practices, and in particular the incorporation of cover crops, are associated with increased crop yield stability (Williams et al, 2018;Page et al, 2019;Anderson et al, 2020).…”

Section: Yield Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Savings in fertilizer use, and in some instances reduced herbicide and insecticide costs, can also increase profitability (Kassam et al, 2009;LaCanne and Lundgren, 2018). Indeed, in some instances, even when yield reductions are observed, CA systems can still be more profitable than conventional agricultural systems due to reduced input costs (Vastola et al, 2017;LaCanne and Lundgren, 2018). Examples of improvements in the profitability of CA vs. conventional agricultural systems can be seen in Table 5.…”

Section: Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Ability of Conservation Agriculture to Conserve Soil Organic Carbon and the Subsequent Impact on Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties and Yield

Page

Dang

Dalal

2020

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

194

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Increases in human populations and the emerging challenges of climate change mean that the world's agricultural systems will need to produce more food in an environment that is increasingly variable and where the quality of our natural resource base is declining. One central measure of an agricultural system's capacity to do this is its ability to preserve soil organic carbon (SOC), due to the pivotal role that this plays in maintaining soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and ultimately yield. This narrative review examines the literature published worldwide over the last 30 years to assess the impact of one widely applied agricultural management system, conservation agriculture (CA), on its ability to maintain SOC and the subsequent impacts on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, and yield. While the effects of CA on SOC worldwide are variable, with both increases and decreases observed, in regions where soil and climatic conditions are favorable for biomass production and where the system does not negatively impact yield, then CA can lead to higher amounts of SOC relative to conventionally managed systems, particularly in the surface of the soil profile. Where greater SOC occurs, these are also often accompanied by improvements in soil structure, water infiltration and soil water storage, plant nutrient availability, microbial biomass and diversity, and yield. However, where CA is used in certain environments (e.g., cold, wet environments with poorly drained soils) or where the CA system has not been well-adapted to local conditions, taking into account the specific agronomic, social, and environmental challenges present, then it may not be a successful system of management. Farmers require access to a range of tools and resources to allow them to identify if the principles of CA are likely to lead be appropriate for their situation and well-designed, locally adapted systems to successfully overcome the agronomic, social and economic challenges that can be associated with its use.

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Section: Impact On Yield Yield Stability and Farm Profitability Yieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Yield Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Ability of Conservation Agriculture to Conserve Soil Organic Carbon and the Subsequent Impact on Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties and Yield

Page

Dang

Dalal

2020

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

194

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“…In the context of the conditions shaped by CAP, researchers in southern Italy propose as another version [78]; the adoption of a holistic sustainable system called "conservation-agriculture" in order to meet the environmental requirements and to cover the production needs. It is highlighted that this is a system "combining satisfaction of food needs and land preservation.…”

Section: Concerning the 2014 Reform And Other Related Issues Of Capmentioning

confidence: 99%

Common Agricultural Policy and Local Economy and Development in the Region of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace (Greece)

Markopoulos¹

2019

JESTR

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The current article details the impact of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), particularly the impact of each CAP reform on agricultural production and the rural economy in the region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace (EMT), Greece, done via an econometric approach employing Factor Analysis techniques and Structural Equation Model. Detailed qualitative and quantitative data were obtained through structured questionnaires completed during in-depth interviews of the scientific staff working in regional agriculture and were subsequently used to build a Structural Equation Model. This scientific work was undertaken twice, each time following successive CAP reforms, in order to evaluate immediate impact, not only on the Local Economy, but the continuing regional Local Development. Following the comparison of the two successive reforms SEMs, a series of sectoral comparisons of the two reforms was undertaken to clarify the differences between the two specific reforms.It is concluded that the 2003 reform has had a negative impact on the local EMT economy compared to the 2014 reform, which appears to have contributed more favourably to the local economy and regional development, with Land Value-Purchase, Land Value-Hire, Product processing, Labour hands (harvesting, standardization, packaging etc) and Purchase of inputs (pesticides, fertilizers, supplies, etc.) being the local economy sectors that have responded positively to the second reform.

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“…Therefore, it is necessary to adopt an ecosystem approach in agriculture (DeClerck et al 2016) in order to strengthen its multi-functional role in providing provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. A sustainable agricultural management (Vastola et al 2017;Viccaro et al 2019) allows us to provide healthy food (SDG 2 and SDG 3) and fuel (SDG 7). At the same time, it also allows us to improve agricultural ecosystem services such as soil carbon sequestration (SDG 13), water storage (SDG 6), safeguarding of biodiversity (SDG 15), improved security from natural hazard and disease (SDG 3), and climate change mitigation (SDG 13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest, Agriculture, and Environmental Protection as Path to Sustainable Development

Viccaro

Caniani

2019

Nat Resour Res

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A comparative multidimensional evaluation of conservation agriculture systems: A case study from a Mediterranean area of Southern Italy

Cited by 36 publications

References 20 publications

The Ability of Conservation Agriculture to Conserve Soil Organic Carbon and the Subsequent Impact on Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties and Yield

The Ability of Conservation Agriculture to Conserve Soil Organic Carbon and the Subsequent Impact on Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties and Yield

Common Agricultural Policy and Local Economy and Development in the Region of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace (Greece)

Forest, Agriculture, and Environmental Protection as Path to Sustainable Development

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