Resumen de The potential of conservation agriculture to migate climate change in mediterranean areas
Agriculture contributes to climate change, and is affected by it. On the one hand, solar energy is used primarily by photosynthetic organisms which transform it into carbohydrates, releasing oxygen (O2) whilst consuming carbon dioxide (CO2) and water. In inland areas, agriculture and forestry favor photosynthesis which is performed by plants and trees; that is how this chemical reaction that sustains life is generated. On the other hand, several agricultural activities, for example soil tillage and fertilization of crops, favor the emission into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases (GHG), such as CO2 and nitrous oxide (N2O). Therefore, the role of agriculture is twofold: as crops and trees consume some of the CO2 in the atmosphere for photosynthetic reactions, and agricultural field tasks emit GHG. In other words, with regards to climate change, agriculture is part of the problem, but it is also part of the solution. Currently, about 9% of total GHG emissions in the European Union come from agriculture, which is considered a net emitter of greenhouse gases. However, agriculture has an asset that no other productive sector may boast: the soil. There are various scientific studies that warn of the precarious situation of soils in areas where the intensification of agriculture has led to intensive tillage as a conventional practice to prepare the seedbed. In addition, there are numerous studies which confirm how, through conservation, agriculture soil quality is considerably improved, and that a sustainable use of soils can be achieved. The term “sustainable” is used in almost all areas related to agriculture and the environment. It is a word not only appealing to non-specialists, but also for scientists and technicians in the field. The overuse of terms related to sustainability has produced misunderstandings, such as some specific benefits of particular agricultural systems being wrongly attributed to others. The scientific literature confirms that not all agricultural practices have an equal impact on the environment...
