Abstract

VILLALBA ALGARIN, Carlos Alcides; GONZALEZ, Alodia Concepción; SZOSTAK, Javier Emilio  and  SANABRIA FRANCO, Marcos Fabian. Exploring the state of the art of tillage and its impact on soil quality and agricultural productivity: a critical review of the last 20 years. Investig. Agrar. [online]. 2024, vol.26, n.2, pp.111-124. ISSN 2305-0683.  https://doi.org/10.18004/investig.agrar.2024.diciembre.2602806.

Tillage has been a fundamental pillar in the establishment and evolution of agriculture over time. However, its impact on soil quality and agricultural productivity has received significant attention due to environmental challenges and the need for sustainable agriculture. This study assessed the state of the art on tillage practices and their influence on soil quality and agricultural productivity over the last 20 years, through an analysis of 92 articles from the Web of Science database. The results reveal a growing interest in the topic in the last decade, with notable contributions from the United States, China, Brazil, Canada, and India, focusing on conservation systems and their relationship with soil quality, organic matter, and agricultural productivity. The most frequently evaluated indicators include physical parameters (bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregates, porosity), chemical parameters (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH), and biological parameters (organic carbon, microbial biomass, enzymatic activities). The review suggests that conservation tillage systems tend to improve soil quality and crop productivity. However, some studies present contradictory results regarding soil physical quality and productivity, attributable to intrinsic factors. To better understand the impacts of tillage practices, it is crucial to conduct national-level research that considers the edaphoclimatic requirements of different crops, in order to identify the conditions under which conservation systems are most efficient for more sustainable and resilient agriculture.

Keywords : conservation agriculture; sustainable agriculture; systematic research; soil health; food security.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )