The Importance of the Conservation Agriculture for Turkey

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is concerned with profitableness and sustainability by optimizing agricultural procedures while conserving input and minimizing any impact on natural resources. Technologies that benefit the environment can often have negative effect on crop productivity and offer short-term profitability. CA is one of few practices that can enhance yield, economic returns, and food security while conserving the natural resources. The principles of the CA are zero-tillage, permanent soil cover and programing crop rotation or diversification in annual crops. However, CA practices have direct influence on climate regulation through carbon sequestration and less greenhouse gas emissions, and on regulation and provision of water through soil physical, chemical and biological properties. For the last couple of decades the degradation caused by agricultural activities increased linearly as a result of unsustainable intensification of agricultural production in Turkey. For this reason, it is necessary to apply the techniques which will protect both land and optimum production in the whole country. The aim of this research is emphasize the importance of the conservation farming in Turkey. In addition, measures and national strategies for the spread of CA throughout the country have been discussed in detail.

Controlled Traffic Farm: Fuel Demand and Carbon Emissions in Soybean Sowing

“…Gozubuyuk et al [42] observed that straw cover reduced operational fuel consumption, which corroborates this research; the authors obtained liters per hour fuel savings of 3.5-fold compared to areas without vegetation cover. Conservation tillage practices, especially no-till practices, generally reduce fuel consumption, compared to conventional tillage [43].…”