ABSTRACT
Soil degradation is to be expected whenever there is not good management of soil and crop residues. The challenge facing farmers is to manage organic inputs so that the release of nutrients is synchronized with plant growth demands. The practice of growing winter cover crops, mainly legumes, which has spread widely in Brazil not only protects the soil surface from water erosion and enhances soil organic matter, but also contributes to nutrient recycling and/or nitrogen fixation that benefits the following crop. Understanding how crop residues influence nutrient cycling and soil chemical properties, and then integrating residue management strategies into different cropping systems, are essential for soil fertility management. The no-tillage system using cover crops and crop rotations can minimize soil degradation and diminish the chemical inputs needed. It increases the stability of crop performance and also enhances cash crop yields. Especially in tropical conditions, improved residue management and reduced tillage should be encouraged because they contribute to sustainable production.
