ABSTRACT
The location of a specific agroecosystem is dependent on many factors that can be characterized using physical, biological, and socio-economic principles. In the development of sustainable agricultural systems, the balance between conservation and degradative practices is modified by climate and soil type. This chapter aims to characterize strategies that have been used to overcome constraints to the adoption of conservation tillage practices, especially in the context of soil and climate constraints in temperate regions. It is recognized, however, that public policy, machinery requirements, and both sociological and economical factors can also influence adoption of conservation tillage. Various approaches can be utilized to remove soil and climatic impediments to conservation tillage adoption. In conservation tillage new technologies have been developed primarily to improve plant establishment. In modern agriculture, systems of tillage are required which will prevent degradation and erosion of the soil resource.
