This well-written, informative and authoritative book is an important contribution to the evidence that conservation agriculture (CA) – based on direct planting of crop seeds, permanent soil cover of organic matter, and crop rotation – is fundamental to achieving true sustainability of agricultural production.

In rotational systems of crop-production, short breaks under pasture are important for maintaining productivity over the longer term. The book describes the inverse – how principles and practices of CA, are applied in revitalizing degraded pastures in livestock-production systems through the interpolation of short periods under crops within long periods under grass.

The six chapters' technical content, primarily concerning Brazilian situations, is complemented by clear definitions, tables, figures, text-boxes and photographs. Comparing results from six case studies shows that relatively modest investments in moving towards integrated crop-livestock zero-tillage systems (ICLZT) are viable, with attractive net returns and very adequate internal rates of return.

As much of the expansion of ‘the agricultural frontier’ in Brazil is at the expense of native forest, it is significant that well-managed ICLZT systems enable greater farm output to be achieved through safe improvement of production per hectare than, otherwise, through lateral expansion by further deforestation.

The final chapter lists important policy recommendations for promoting conservation-effective agriculture and for facilitating farmers' transition to such systems.

The book is aimed at agronomists, advanced farmers, extension workers and agricultural decision-makers. Illustrating both quantitative and qualitative benefits of an application of CA principles, its scope, content and style will also recommend it to a wider readership.