The Essentials of Conservation Agriculture for Soil Quality, Crop and Water Productivity in Ethiopian Agriculture: A Review

Abstract

In fact food security can be increased through improved land use and land management practices. In Ethiopia much of the increase in crop production in the past decade has been due to increases in area of cultivated.  To what extent expansion can continue remains a question, therefore obtaining higher yield rates is the challenge of Ethiopia’s agricultural system. Conservation agriculture (mulching); which here refers to minimizing soil disturbance through no-till practice, application of organic mulch cover, and cropping in time; has the potential to improve soil quality, water, and crop productivity. The objectives of this critical review is to collect available information in similar production environments, indicators on the essential of CA contributions to soil quality, crop and water productivity both in dry and rainfall seasons of Ethiopian agriculture. Recently a study on the role of conservation agriculture indicates improve soil quality, crop yield and water productivity. In addition to this CA can be protect soil layer for erosions either wind or runoff, to optimize infiltration rate minimize runoff, to crate the path of soil it contributes micro nutrients move easily. So, reviewer concluded that conservation agriculture is potentially important to improve sustainable Ethiopian agricultural production and productivity. This agricultural practice (CA) should be able to adopt for irrigated and rain fed farms of Ethiopia.

Keywords: Conservation Agriculture, soil quality, crop productivity, water productivity and Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-16-03

Publication date:August 31^st 2021