1. Comparing Conventional Tillage and No Till
Sudeep Singh Sidhu
SOIL 4213

2. What Is Tillage?
The operation, practice or art of tilling or preparing land for sowing, and keeping the ground in proper state for growth of crops.

4. WHY PERFORM TILLAGE
THE PHYSICAL MANIPULATION OF THE SOIL FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
Management of previous crop residues
Control of competing vegetation
Incorporation of amendments
Preparation of a seedbed
CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE LEAVES 5- 10% SURFACE RESIDUE

5. Types of tillage Primary Secondary tillage
Incorporation of plant residues and fertilizers
Secondary tillage
Weed Management
Seed bed preparation

6. Primary Tillage Plows

7. Secondary Tillage

8. Disadvantages Loss of SOM Expensive – Labor, Equipments, Time & Fuel
Less water holding capacity
Wind and water erosion
Destruction of soil pores
Aggregate Breakdown- Crusting
Compaction- Restricts root growth & water infiltration

9. INTENSIVE TILLAGE PROMOTES SOIL EROSION

10. Wind Erosion

11. CROP RESIDUE IS STILL THE BEST EROSION PREVENTION TOOL
REDUCED DETACHMENT
HINDERS OVERLAND FLOW
IMPROVED INFILTRATION
ROTATIONS MAINTAIN SOIL STRUCTURE

12. Soil is Never Disturbed
No Till - Definition
Planting crops without prior seedbed preparation, into an existing cover crop, or crop residues, and eliminating subsequent tillage operations.
Plant Cover
Kill Cover
Soil is Always Covered
Soil is Never Disturbed
Harvest
Plant Crop

13. Advantages ↑ Soil Organic Matter ↑ Water conservation
↑ Available nitrogen
↑ Water Stable Aggregates – gums, gels etc
↑ Biological Activity
↓ Erosion
↓ Heat Stress
↓ Summer Fallowing
↓ Weed Population

14. Heat Stress and Yield Treatment Heat Stress Index (oC) Biomass
(kg/ ha)
Yield
5 cm
10 cm NT
1278
896
4090
966 CT
2402
1698
1574
391
HSI = Σ (Ti – Tc )
Wang et al. (2007)

15. Nutrient Loss
Lankoski et al (2006)

16. Cost ??
Lankoski et al (2006)

17. References
Lankoski, J., Ollikainen, M. and Uusitalo, P. (2006). No-till technology: benefits to farmers and the environment? Theoretical analysis and application to Finnish agriculture. European Review of Agricultural Economics 33:
Wang, H., Lemke, R., Goddard, T. and Sprout, C. (2007). Tillage and root heat stress in wheat in central Alberta. Canadian Journal of Soil Science 87: 3-10.

18. Continued… www.auri.org/proproj/rottine1.jpg

19. Questions?