Conservation Agriculture: Helping to Return to Within Planetary Boundaries

Rockström, J., Kassam, A., Friedrich, T., Reicosky, D., Dumansky, J., Goddard, T. & Peiretti, R.A. 2026. Global Sustainability. 9. Article e11, pages 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2025.10045

This review looks at the role of conservation agriculture (CA) needed to transform agriculture to a sustainable intensification that will be needed to positively influence climate change issues, biodiversity, future food security and soil health. The Authors contend that CA offers the only universally applicable agricultural practices that can be adopted at scale and speed, across all agro-ecological zones within the coming 1–2 decades.

The paper presents the rationale, evolution, and prospects of CA across the world. The review presents information on CA adoption globally and estimates the potential for expansion to 2050. The Authors summarize that CA "offers a universally applicable agricultural practice that can be adopted at scale and speed."

Soil Structure Changes Under Reduced Tillage and Cover Cropping Enhance Carbon Mineralization in Mediterranean Croplands

Alvarez-Sagrero, J., Chacon, S.S., Mitchell, J.P. &  Ghezzehei, T.A. 2026. Vadose Zone Journal. 26 (1) Article e70065. https://doi.org/10.1002/vzj2.70065 

This paper presents results from a long-term experiment from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources since 1999. The study site is located in the San Joaquin Valley. 19 years of reduced tillage with cover crops (CTCC) was compared with conventional tillage without cover crops (STNC). Results showed CTCC increased surface soil carbon by 50%, nitrogen by 83%, and air-filled porosity 2.5-fold at high water potentials compared to STNC. CCTC respiration rates also increased over 100% under wet conditions, that the authors suggest is due to formation of macropores that become microbial hot spots upon re-wetting that results in accelerated carbon cycling. The authors conclude that "their findings highlight that soil structure–moisture–microbe interactions represent a critical frontier for optimizing conservation agriculture for carbon sequestration, requiring a balanced approach to tillage, organic inputs, and irrigation management to minimize rapid carbon losses.

Cover Cropping Increases the Abundance of Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi Structures Associated with Ecosystem Functioning

Bromley, P.L. & Rintoul-Hynes, N.L.J. 2025. Agronomy Journal. 117 (3) Article e70075. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70075

This paper from the UK looked at seven key mycorrhizal and endophytic fungal structures from soil samples taken from 5 mixed cover cropped and 5 conventionally managed fields growing spring beans. The cover cropped sites grew the CC in the Winter, whereas the conventional one was tilled heavily and then left fallow until planting a spring crop in March. Results showed that wherever CC were grown there were significantly higher abundance of hyphae, arbuscules, vesicles, moniliform hyphae, and microsclerotia, but not spores or chlamydospores. They conclude that "Since these structures are known to be associated with nutrient exchange, overwintering and long-term survival, energy storage, and branching and inoculation, cover cropping practices are likely to improve the functioning of mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi.

Conservation Agriculture: A Review of Plant Residue use with Zero Tillage and Crop Rotation

Hendrik, E., Adu, A.A., Haba Bunga, E.Z. & Gultam, T. 2025. Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, Special Issue. 59. 12-17. https://doi.org/10.18805/IJARe.AF-961

This review article looks at the importance of plant residues with no-till and rotation (CA management). The paper mentions that rotations have spread throughout the World, but only one or two of the three principles of CA are. used in practice with no-till and crop residue more efficient at using rainfall and a more resilient agricultural system compared to conventional tillage but also no-tillage without residues. Without residues, yields are reduced.

The authors show that "In areas with low rainfall, the yields were highest obtained in farms that combined NT treatments and the use of crop residues, whereas in rainfed areas with conventional (CT) systems, when residues were removed from NT systems, wheat and maize yields were drastically reduced." Also in many small-scale farms, the residue yield is low and has many competing uses. Crop residues are generally burned in the fields or fed to livestock. They conclude that NT+ R is needed for CA to be successful and adding rotation can provide even better results.

Unlocking Climate Resilience by Exploring the Mitigation Potential of Improved Rotation with Cover Cropping

Attia, A., Woli, P., Long, C.R., Rouquette, F.M., Smith, G.R., Datta, A., Felke, T. & Rajan, N. 2025. Journal of Environmental Management. 391. Article 126352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126352

This paper from Texas (semi-arid area) looks at legume and non-legume cover crops (CC) in crop rotations on crop yields, SOC sequestration, GHG emissions, water use efficiency and the farm carbon footprint compared to business as usual (BAU).

They also looked at the long-term impact of these practices using the DSSAT model. The results showed that the CC resulted in significant agronomic and environmental benefits compared to BAU.

They conclude that "their findings emphasize the critical role of CCs in climate-smart agricultural strategies, highlighting the need to optimize rotations and nutrient management practices to sustainably intensify agriculture in semi-arid regions.

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