**3. Maize-based conservation tillage and benefits**

Conservation tillage plays a significant role in sustainable maize production by promoting soil health, reducing erosion, improving water retention, and minimizing the environmental impact of farming practices.

Maize cultivation can be achieved without the need for primary tillage through a practice known as no-till farming. This approach offers several advantages, including reduced cultivation costs and improved efficiency in resource utilization. To ensure successful crop establishment, it is essential to maintain optimal soil moisture during sowing. Additionally, the proper placement of seeds and fertilizers in bands using a zero-till seed-cum-fertilizer planter with a suitable furrow opener, taking into account the soil texture and field conditions, is crucial [2].

#### *Sustainable Maize Production and Carbon Footprint in Arid Land Context: Challenges… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.112965*

A study conducted in Zimbabwe in a semi-arid climate examined the impact of conservation tillage on maize production. The objective of the study was to assess the maize yield advantage associated with conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage, which represented the farmers' practice in the region. The researchers aimed to provide insights into the potential benefits of introducing conservation tillage as a technology for maize production in the semi-arid conditions of Zimbabwe and compare the efficacy of conventional tillage and conservation tillage methods in terms of maize yield. When comparing the performance of various tillage methods, it is important to acknowledge that for any alternative system to be considered viable, its yield should be equal to or higher than that of conventional tillage in the short term. Additionally, it is crucial to consider the resource constraints faced by smallholder farmers during the adoption of alternative tillage practices. They evaluated eight tillage experiments conducted between 1984 and 2008. Nyakudya et al. [16] found results that showed Conservation tillage methods demonstrated slight but noteworthy yield advantages in regions with less than 500 mm of rainfall. In cases where grain yields reached 2.5 tons per hectare and the rainfall was below 500 mm, the adoption of 1.0 m tied ridging resulted in an additional 144 kg per hectare, while mulch ripping contributed an extra 344 kg per hectare compared to conventional tillage practices. These findings highlight the potential of conservation tillage methods to enhance maize yields in areas with limited rainfall, albeit with modest improvements.

In another research in Western Colorado Research Center in USA, Keshavarz et Dekamin 2022 evaluated the sustainability of maize production by comparing four different tillage systems: conventional tillage with moldboard plow (MP), conventional tillage with chisel plow (CP), strip-tillage (ST), and no-till (NT). The assessment was conducted using life cycle assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) methods. By considering the entire production process, including energy and material wastage, a more comprehensive understanding of the hidden costs of production was obtained. The results showed that the total annual energy input varied among the tillage systems, with NT having the lowest energy demand. NT also exhibited improved energy efficiency and yield increase. The economic analysis revealed that eliminating negative products in corn production could significantly increase farmers' net benefit. Environmental impact assessments indicated that NT and MP performed better than CP and ST in most categories, with NT showing the best performance in terms of global warming potential, acidification, and eutrophication. Overall, NT proved to be the most sustainable option for corn production, followed by the MP system, considering energy, economic, and environmental indicators.
