Conservation agriculture on the western Loess Plateau: research practice, problems and advices

摘要

Definition of conservation tillage, conservation agriculture and its history, adoption of conservation agriculture around the world were reviewed in this paper. Referred to some of the results from conservation agriculture research had been done in the western Loess Plateau, the need of conservation agriculture adoption in the area was put forward. Obstacles preventing conservation agriculture adoption were: traditional conception on intensive and meticulous farming; lack of fund for transition from traditional agriculture to conservation agriculture; lack of management skills on conservation agriculture and strong conflict between stubble retention and lack of forage and fuel is conflict. To solve this obstacle to give way to a wide adoption of conservation tillage and sustainable agricultural development, new policy, training workshops and more demonstration works are needed to help conservation agriculture extension and adoption, government need to fund research and design of suitable machinery, and other required inputs for conservation agriculture.