No-Till Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture in South America

Calegari A.; de Araujo A.G.; Tiecher T.; Bartz M.L.C.; Lanillo R.F.; dos Santos D.R.; Capandeguy F.; Zamora J.H.; Jump J.R.B.; Moriya K.; Dabalá L.; Cubilla L.E.; Cubilla M.M.; Carballal M.; Trujillo R.; Peiretti R.; Derpsch R.; Miguel S.; Friedrich T. · No-till Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities (2020) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7_30

Resumen

A high demand for food production has placed tremendous pressure on the finite land area and natural resources for agricultural production in different South America (SA) countries. Traditional agriculture in almost all SA countries places an emphasis on intensive tillage and monoculture, which has led to a severe environmental degradation and loss of soil productive capacity. This has led to declining crop performance and yield, which has created a risk to food security for future generations. The no-till (NT) farming system can bring a real opportunity to create a legacy of healthy farms and healthy, living soils that will form the base for future food security. The evaluation and history of soil and water management in different SA countries and the strategies developed by researchers, farmers, and organizations in order to test, validate, and promote the diffusion of the sustainable technologies that make up the NT system (NT, suitable machinery, cover crops, crop rotation, enhancing biological, physical and chemical soil attributes) are detailed in order to highlight the lessons and learning for other regions and countries. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020.