# Carbon, Water, and Light Use Efficiency Under Conservation Practice on Sloped Arable Land
## 5 Conclusions  
In the current study, we observed that planting a cover crop on sloping arable land exposed to water erosion processes significantly improves biomass accumulation in the subsequent crop while reducing surface water runoff and soil losses. The inclusion of a cover crop in the wheat-maize rotation leads to a substantial increase in assimilated carbon, enhancing both aboveground and belowground biomass. This process aids in carbon sequestration, keeping the soil surface covered during the fallow periods between main crops. Moreover, when combined with minimum contour tillage, this approach results in more efficient water management for both maize and wheat crops, particularly improving water and light use efficiency in the dry years of 2022 and 2023.  
While our study demonstrated that these conservation practices can enhance resource use efficiency, it is important to note that carbon use efficiency (CUE) did not show significant differences in relation to tillage systems or climatic conditions during the course of this experiment. This suggests that, while the system improves biomass and resource efficiency, further investigation is needed to better understand the complex factors influencing carbon cycling under varying management practices.  
There are several limitations to our study that should be addressed in future research. First, this study was conducted over a limited number of years, and longer term monitoringis necessary to assess the sustainability of these practices over time. Additionally, this research was focused on a single agroecosystem with specific climatic and soil conditions. To draw more generalized conclusions, similar studies should be conducted in different geographic regions and under various climate scenarios.  
The practical applications of our findings are significant for sustainable agricultural practices in sloping terrains prone to erosion. Our results suggest that the integration of cover crops and minimum tillage can be a viable strategy to improve soil conservation, enhance water and light use efficiency, and increase carbon sequestration in agroecosystems. This approach could be particularly beneficial for farmers in regions affected by soil erosion and water scarcity.  
Future research should focus on a deeper exploration of the underlying mechanisms that regulate carbon cycling and use efficiency in different agricultural systems. It would also be valuable to study the long-term effects of these practices on soil fertility, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem services. Further experiments could explore the potential of other cover crop species, varying tillage practices, and the impact of climate change on the efficacy of these conservation techniques.  
Conceptualization, G.K., A.Z.A. and M.K.; methodology, G.K.; software, G.K.; validation, G.K., A.Z.A., V.V. and M.K.; formal analysis, G.K. and M.F.; investigation, G.K.; resources, A.Z.A.; data curation, G.K.; writing--original draft preparation, G.K., A.Z.A. and M.K.; writing--review and editing, A.Z.A., V.V. and V.D.; visualization, P.D.N. and P.N.; supervision, G.K.; project administration, G.K.; funding acquisition, A.Z.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by the Scientific Research Fund under grant agreement No KP-06-N76/2 2023 (project \"Integration of satellite and ground-based data on the components of the soil water balance and vegetation cover in models for assessing agro-ecological risks and agricultural practices for their reduction\").  
Not applicable.  
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.