The potential contribution of crop residues to ruminant feeding in the four agro-ecological zones distinguished in Burkina Faso was estimated, applying the Java Program developed at the Animal Production Systems Group of Wageningen University (Chapter 2). The number of animals that can be fed and their production were estimated on the basis of availability and quality (digestibility and N content) of crop residues (cereal stovers and legume haulms).

Recent changes in the Conservation Compliance Plans for farmers shows the need for improved information on the effective management of crop residues. Residue management requires an understanding of the crop, soil, and climate in which the farming system is located. In this volume, the strategies for effective residue management are described for each region of the country to provide a comparison of the regional differences. The chapters not only describe the knowledge in each region but also suggest some of the needed areas of research required to develop an improved understanding of the processes involved in effective residue management.

In the last decade, the increased interest in bioenergy production has led to the need for improved crop residue management. Crop residues have historically been used for many other purposes: to sustain healthy soils for food production, as feed and bedding for livestock, and as raw material for heating and cooking. As the link between crop residue management and food security is evident, one needs to decide whether or to which extent the removal of crop residues for bioenergy production is possible. Building science-based decision support tools can guide stakeholders in this decision process. The study presents a first attempt in designing such a decision support tool for soil residue management. The study seeks to explore the effect of crop residue management on soil quality and yield, two crucial aspects for food security. More than 1 000 peer-reviewed journal papers of the past ten years were studied in order to assess (i) whether crop residue application is associated with higher soil organic carbon (SOC), (ii) whether it ameliorates soil structure and (iii) if the change in SOC related to residue application has a positive impact on yields. The findings of this report demonstrate that crop residue management has to be contextualized, suggesting the need for site-specific residue management schemes. in coarse soils located in tropical climates and in SOC-depleted soils located in temperate climates, crop residue removal is not advisable.

This book covers soil health/management but also addresses issues such as reverting land degradation, improving soil carbon and biodiversity, mitigating climate change and enhancing ecosystem services/functions. This book is comprised of 12 chapters by leading academics and scientists from across the globe, and deals with various issues, prospects and the importance of “Sustainable Soil Management” under different agro-climatic conditions, including India, and also covers other regions in North America, South America, Australia, Africa and South Asia. This book will be extremely useful to researchers, scientists, students, farmers and land managers for efficient as well as sustainable management of natural resources with the theme of one-health i.e. soil-plant-animal-human-planetary health.

Soil Management and Climate Change: Effects on Organic Carbon, Nitrogen Dynamics, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions provides a state of the art overview of recent findings and future research challenges regarding physical, chemical and biological processes controlling soil carbon, nitrogen dynamic and greenhouse gas emissions from soils. This book is for students and academics in soil science and environmental science, land managers, public administrators and legislators, and will increase understanding of organic matter preservation in soil and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. Given the central role soil plays on the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, there is an urgent need to increase our common understanding about sources, mechanisms and processes that regulate organic matter mineralization and stabilization, and to identify those management practices and processes which mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, helping increase organic matter stabilization with suitable supplies of available N. Provides the latest findings about soil organic matter stabilization and greenhouse gas emissions Covers the effect of practices and management on soil organic matter stabilization Includes information for readers to select the most suitable management practices to increase soil organic matter stabilization

These proceedings are a collection of concise and applied papers by farmers, agricultural scientists, extension workers, agricultural engineers and technical representatives. After an introduction a series of useful review papers follows, each covering the present state of crop residue management in the major regions of the U.S.A. Presented papers then consider the use of specialist machinery to till the soil. A final series of papers considers constraints to the adoption of these techniques

Cover crops slow erosion, improve soil, smother weeds, enhance nutrient and moisture availability, help control many pests and bring a host of other benefits to your farm. At the same time, they can reduce costs, increase profits and even create new sources of income. You¿ll reap dividends on your cover crop investments for years, since their benefits accumulate over the long term. This book will help you find which ones are right for you. Captures farmer and other research results from the past ten years. The authors verified the info. from the 2nd ed., added new results and updated farmer profiles and research data, and added 2 chap. Includes maps and charts, detailed narratives about individual cover crop species, and chap. about aspects of cover cropping.