AgEvidence: a dataset to explore agro-ecological effects of conservation agriculture

Abstract

AbstractConservation agriculture (CA) is a set of principles thought to be able to enhance crop productivity while minimizing impacts on the environment. The evidence base for CA can be challenging to synthesize because it encompasses many different practices and social and agroecological outcomes. To facilitate synthesis of CA evidence we have created a dataset organizing 218 response variables from five common categories of CA: cover crops, tillage management, pest management, nutrient management, and crop diversification. These data cover the Midwestern United States (U.S.) from 1980–2020. The dataset is also summarized and visualized on the AgEvidence website, which enables users to interactively explore, filter, and download data. We hope this dataset will help a wide variety of stakeholders, including researchers, policy makers, advocacy groups, and growers access the evidence needed to make informed and impactful decisions about how to produce food with less negative environmental impact.