No tillage (NT) fosters carbon (C) sequestration, increases soil organic matter (SOM) stock, and improves soil health. However, its effect on SOM accumulation in Andosol, which has high OM stabilization characteristics due to its specific mineral properties, remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effect of NT on SOM content and its distribution by the physical fractionation method and assessed the quality of accumulated SOM in each fraction. We collected soil samples at 0–2.5, 2.5–7.5, and 7.5–15 cm depths from NT and conventional tillage (CT) plots in a long-term (19 years) field experiment of Andosols in Ibaraki, Japan. The soil samples were separated into light fraction (LF), coarse-POM (cPOM: 0.25–2 mm), fine-POM (fPOM: 0.053–0.25 mm), and silt + clay (mOM: <0.053 mm). The C, nitrogen (N), and organic phosphorus (Po) contents of each fraction were analyzed. The C content of cPOM and fPOM in NT at 0–7.5 cm was higher than in CT, while there was no clear difference in the mOM fraction or deeper layer (7.5–15 cm). NT increased the C, N, and Po contents in the labile POM fractions at the surface layers but did not increase the stable fraction or change the quality.

This book chapter addresses the urgent need to shift from traditional practices to sustainable intensification, particularly in regions where environmental constraints and the impacts of climate change are pronounced. It provides an in-depth overview of sustainable intensification, focusing on its core principles to increase food production from existing farmland while minimizing environmental harm. Key aspects discussed include agroecosystem management, where the complex interactions between plants, soil, and microorganisms are explored, along with the critical role of soil biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem productivity. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of proper nutrient management, analyzing the effects of nutrient deficiency on plant health and productivity. It advocates for integrated nutrient management to optimize soil health and crop yields. Innovative practices such as breeding for nutrient use efficiency, crop rotation, intercropping, and advanced technologies like precision agriculture are also highlighted as vital strategies for sustainable intensification. Moreover, the chapter underscores the necessity of supportive policy frameworks and community engagement in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The importance of sustainable intensification in ensuring food security and economic stability has been thoroughly discussed, offering practical recommendations for stakeholders to foster resilient and sustainable agroecosystems in the face of climate change.

Faced with global challenges such as population growth, resource scarcity, and climate change, the world must find sustainable agricultural solutions. Precision agriculture (PA) and the circular economy (CE) emerge as viable options. Our paper explores how these frameworks, along with their associated strategies and examples from Ghana, can address issues such as soil degradation, low productivity, limited diversification, postharvest losses, and heightened climate vulnerability among small farms. By incorporating PA strategies such as organic farming, legume‐crop integration, drone technology, water‐smart farming, aquaponics fish production, hydroponics, innovative mushroom and snail farming, deployment of smart crop varieties, bundling, and agroecology CE principles that maximize productivity per unit area, practitioners can bolster climate resilience, enhance food security, and support rural livelihoods. Adopting strategies such as vertical farming for vegetable production, integrated aquaponics‐based food systems, mushroom production, and improved crop varieties will pave the way for a sustainable future in agriculture. The current study deployed a systematic review to examine the trends, implications, and contributions of PA and the CE to food security and agricultural production in Ghana over the past decade. The findings revealed the various PA and CE strategies adopted in Ghana, along with their potential benefits and synergies.

Climate change poses a growing threat to smallholder farming in Ghana, where dependence on a limited range of staple crops increases vulnerability to drought, heat stress, and erratic rainfall. Identifying resilient, locally adapted crop options is therefore critical for strengthening climate adaptation and sustaining rural livelihoods. This study examined the contribution of minor crops to climate adaptation and livelihood resilience among smallholder farmers in Ghana. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 750 farming households across 15 communities in the Ashanti, Ahafo, and Western North regions, representing forest and forest-savannah transition agroecological zones. Structured household surveys, focus group discussions, and field crop inventories were used to document crop diversity, livelihood contributions, and farmer perceptions. A total of 43 minor crop species were identified, spanning indigenous vegetables, root & tuber crops, legumes, cereals, and fruit crops, many of which exhibited drought tolerance and high nutritional value. Households cultivating more than 20 minor crop species experienced shorter hunger-gap periods (1.7 months year⁻¹) compared with households cultivating five or fewer species (4.5 months year⁻¹), while household dietary diversity scores increased from 4.0 to 8.6. More than 40% of households reported that minor crops contributed up to 30% of total household income. Farmers also perceived these crops as important for buffering climate-related production risks, conserving agrobiodiversity, and reducing dependence on costly external inputs, highlighting their potential for resilient, sustainable smallholder farming. This study is one of the first multi-regional assessments of minor crops in Ghana, combining household livelihood indicators with farmer perceptions in evaluating resilience and livelihood security for sustainable agriculture.