Can no-tillage and crop diversification sustain nutrient stocks in acidic and poorly-fertilized soils? Evidence from 32 years of real-world agricultural management in Paraguay.

Algarin, C.A.V., Thiengo, C.C., Cherubin, M.R., Bieluczyk, W., Mariano, E., Amorim, D.J., Franco, M.F.S., Gonzalez, A.C. & Lavres, J. 2025. Soil Advances. 4. Article 100084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilad.2025.100084

This is another article in this February newsletter from South America that provides very long term data on CA from a research experiment that considered 5 treatments representing agricultural systems relevant to Paraguay and assessed after 32 years. Treatments in a wheat-soybean system included conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT1). In addition, two diversified no-tillage rotations with increasing adoption in the region were included: NT2, composed of black oat–soybean, wheat–soybean, and black oat–soybean; and NT3, consisting of wheat–soybean, vetch–maize, and black oat–soybean. These crop sequences were implemented continuously in three-year cycles over the 32-year study period. The study focused on nutrient stocks, however, consistent relationships between pH and nutrients were observed while pH remained below the minimum threshold recommended for the regional commercial crops . They conclude that "diversified no till farming conserves fertility in low input contexts, but the benefits are limited due to soil acidity. Finally, integrating periodic soil diagnosis with amendments, particularly liming, offers a practical pathway to sustaining production in Paraguay.

The key role of local and global farmer networks in the development of conservation agriculture in California.

Mitchell, J.P., Jackson, L.E., Reicosky, D.C., Kassam, A., Shrestha, A., Harben, R., Miyao, E.M., Scow, K.M., Sposito, G. et. al., (+34 others). 2025. Journal of Environmental Quality. 54 (5) 1288-1305. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.70039

This article describes the history of California's Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation (CASI) that increased the sustainability of agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley of California, by reducing soil erosion, conserving soil moisture, using systems thinking, creating farmer networks, advisors, and researchers since 1998. It used CA management that included reducing soil disturbance for better soil structure and biological activity, retaining biomass on the soil to support soil life, and diversifying crops to enhance biodiversity. They calculate that CASI involves more than 2200 farmers and private sector, university, public agency and environmental groups as partners. The paper describes the benefits of CA in maize, small grains, vegetables, cotton, beans, and melons. They conclude that "reducing soil disturbance for better soil structure and biological activity, retaining biomass on the soil to support soil life, and diversifying crops to enhance biodiversity.

Mega-analysis of no-tillage and reduced tillage impacts on crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions.

Kasrija, L., Hui, D., Ray, A., Ren, W., Wang, L., Fay, P.A., Smith, D.R., Li, J., Illukpitiya, P. & Tian, H. 2025. Field Crops Research. 334. Article 110167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110167

This paper from North America synthesized data from 30 meta-analyses to comprehensively assess the impacts of the no-till (NT), reduced till (RT,) and mixed NT+RT on crop yields and GHG emissions. Results showed that the yields of wheat, maize, rice, fibers, cotton, and cereals were not significantly affected by NT, while the yields of soybean, oilseeds, and legumes were enhanced by NT. NT did not influence soil CO2 emissions, and none of the tillage treatments influenced soil CH4 emissions. However, NT increased soil N2O emissions whereas RT and NT+RT had no significant effect on soil N2O emissions. They suggested that the varied impacts of tillage can be attributed to soil properties and practices like crop residue management, irrigation type, and nitrogen rates.

Beyond the buzz: analyzing actors promoting regenerative agriculture in Europe.

Schreefel, L., Steenman, E., Adler, F., Buffara, R., Freundt, S., DeClerck, F., Duncan, J., Giller, K.E., Koster, H. & van Zanten, H.H.E. njp Sustainable Agriculture. 3 (1) Article 59. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00100-1

This paper discusses the pros and cons of the term Regenerative Agriculture in Europe. They looked at 849 actors web sites and interviewed 131 farmers who use this system from 5 European countries. They mapped actor types, locations, sizes, and promoted themes (e.g. biodiversity) and practices (e.g. no-tillage). Their results suggest that RA originated as a grassroots approach to farming that was co-opted by non-farming actors around 2020. Since 2021 the number of RA farmers has declined as the focus shifted from farming to marketing driven by multinational companies. Interaction with Policy makers was limited and most of the actors were urban-based NGO's. Among nearly 5000 cited practices, cover cropping and crop diversification dominated. They concluded that "the burden of proof for regenerative agriculture to be sustainable lies in its ability to regenerate the environment—until then, its impact remains uncertain.

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