Monica Mezzalama

TL;DR: In this article, a comparative soil quality evaluation is performed in which the performance of the system is determined in relation to alternatives, and the results show that the effect of a reduction in tillage on the variation in total porosity with depth may be related to differences in traffic on different sites, or on soil quality at the time tillage was reduced or stopped.

TL;DR: The long-term effects of different management practices on soil microbial biomass (SMB) (substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and chloroform fumigation incubation (CFI)) and micro-flora physiological and catabolic diversity (BIOLOG TM ecoplate well system) were evaluated by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) at its semi-arid highland experiment station in Mexico.

TL;DR: In the semi-arid and rainfed subtropical highlands of central Mexico, positive effects were observed with zero tillage, crop rotations and crop residue retention, compared with common farming practices.

TL;DR: The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) acts as a catalyst and leader in a global maize and wheat innovation network that serves the poor in the developing world, with a focus on higher grain yields and value-added germplasm.

TL;DR: Results indicate that zero tillage with residue removal is clearly an unsustainable practice and should therefore be combined with an adequate level of residue retention, and is a viable sustainable practice for smallholder farmers in the volcanic highlands of Mexico and comparable regions of the world.