conservation agriculture

Zero-tillage: zero tillage is a technical component used in Conservation Agriculture but not everyone carrying out zero tillage is practicing Conservation Agriculture. Conservation agriculture not only avoids tillage by forcing the seed with heavy direct drills into the soil, by maintaining a soil cover it also improves the structure of the soil. This facilitates direct planting.
Conservation Agriculture uses biological tillage. Zero tillage as stand alone technique can also be applied in conventional agriculture under certain circumstances.

Conservation tillage: conservation tillage are practices that leave crop residues on the surface which increases water infiltration and reduces erosion. It is a practice used in conventional agriculture to reduce the effects of tillage on soil erosion, however, it still depends on tillage as the structure forming element in the soil. Never the less, conservation tillage practices such as zero tillage practices can be transition steps towards Conservation Agriculture.

Direct planting/seeding: this is only a technique that refers to seeding/planting without preparing a proper seedbed. The same equipment is used in Conservation Agriculture. However, the term direct seeding can also be used for implements which combine primary and secondary tillage and seeding in one machine/tractor operation.

Organic farming: Conservation Agriculture is not a synonym of organic farming, although it is based on natural processes. CA does not prohibit the use of farm chemical inputs. For example, herbicides are an important component in Conservation Agriculture, particularly in the transition phase, until the new balance of weed populations is managed. However, in view of the importance of the soil life for the system, farm chemicals, including fertilizer, are carefully applied and over the years, quantities applied tend to decline. In some cases organic farming can be practiced within the CA framework.

Conservation Agriculture is not only compatible but actually works on IPM principles. CA, like IPM, enhances biological processes. It expands the IPM practices from crop and pest management to land husbandry. Without the use of IPM practices the build up of soil biota for the biological tillage would not be possible.