Conservation Agriculture Practices and Their Impact on Soil Health and Pest Dynamics
Vikas Singh
Department of Soil Conservation and Water Management, Chandra Shekhar Azad university of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, India.
Lalita Kumar Mohanty *
KVK Jajpur, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Ashoka, P
Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Universitey of Agriculture Science, Dharwad, Hanumanmatti (p) Ranebennur(tq), Haveri (District)– 581 115, India.
P. A. Ramsem
ICAR-KVK, Ukhrul, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region Manipur Centre, India.
Chandan Kumar Panigrahi
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar - 751003, Odisha, India.
Shobha Thakur
Department of Chemistry, Shuats University, India.
Bhim Singh
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Jammu, India.
Vandana Shukla
H.N.Garhwal Central University, Department HAPPRC, Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal-246174, Uttarakhand, India.
Ram Gopal
Directorate of Extension,ANDUA& T, Kumarganj, Ayodhya - 224229 (U.P), India.
Ram Ashish
Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences & Engineering, IFTM University Moradabad, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Conservation agriculture (CA) practices, including reduced tillage, crop residue retention, and crop rotation, have gained prominence as sustainable farming methods. This review explores the impact of these practices on soil health parameters such as organic matter (OM) content, nutrient availability, water retention capacity, and microbial diversity. Additionally, the article examines how CA practices influence pest dynamics, including weed, insect, and pathogen populations. The complex interactions between soil health and pest pressure under CA systems are discussed. The review highlights the potential of CA to improve soil quality while presenting challenges in pest management that require integrated approaches. Future research directions to optimize CA practices for enhanced soil health and sustainable pest management are suggested.
Keywords: Conservation agriculture, soil health, pest dynamics, sustainability, agroecosystems