The adoption of conservation tillage in China

Conservation tillage (CT) has been recognized as an advanced agricultural technology that may reduce drought and improve the physical condition of soils worldwide. An increase in water infiltration and a reduction in water and wind erosion can be achieved through the use of no-tillage, minimum tillage, and residue cover. In China, CT research started with support from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), China and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in 1992. By the end of 1990s, CT research had expanded across China and achieved several important results. In 1999, MOA established the Conservation Tillage Research Centre (CTRC) to lead the national CT research programs in China, and since 2002 some CT demonstration projects have been established in northern China. By the end of 2008, CT has been demonstrated in 226 national and 365 provincial demonstration counties, covering more than 3 Mha. The CTRC of the MOA has established 10 sites within those counties to monitor project results. Some sites have shown consistently that the use of CT resulted in higher yields and net incomes, reduced soil erosion, and improved soil conditions. CT has been widely accepted in China and will be further adopted over wider areas as the development and highbred of indigenous no-tillage seeders.