This paper summarizes factors affecting the agricultural and environmental potential of conservation tillage in maize-based farming systems in Mexico. The author begins by describing some of the implications of soil conservation in the tropics, including the goals of conservationists and farmers, the defining characteristics of conservation tillage systems, and current perceptions of the potential advantages of conservation tillage in Mexico. Next, the advantages, disadvantages, costs, and benefits of conservation tillage from the farmer's point of view are discussed, followed by an assessment of possible environmental benefits and costs. The author describes four combinations of agricultural and environmental outcomes that could arise from adoption of conservation tillage in the tropics: agriculture lose, environment lose; agriculture win, environment lose; agriculture lose, environment win; and agriculture win, environment win.