No-till farming
No-till farming (also known as zero tillage or direct drilling) is an agricultural technique for growing crops or pasture without disturbing the soil through tillage. No-till farming decreases the amount of soil erosion tillage causes in certain soils, especially in sandy and dry soils on sloping terrain. Other possible benefits include an increase in the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil, soil retention of organic matter, and nutrient cycling. These methods may increase the amount and variety of life in and on the soil. Typically, no-tillage systems require the use of very large amounts of herbicides to control weeds.
Young soybean plants thrive in and are protected by the residue of a wheat crop. This form of no-till farming provides good protection for the soil from erosion and helps retain moisture for the new crop. |
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Tillage is dominant in agriculture today, but no-till methods may have success in some contexts. In some cases minimum tillage or "low-till" methods combine till and no-till methods. For example, some approaches may use shallow cultivation (i.e. using a disc harrow) but no plowing or use strip tillage.
Background
Tillage is the agricultural preparation of soil by mechanical agitation, typically removing weeds established in the previous season. Tilling can create a flat seed bed or one that has formed areas, such as rows or raised beds, to enhance the growth of desired plants. It is an ancient technique with clear evidence of its use since at least 3000 B.C.[1]
No-till farming is not equivalent to conservation tillage or strip tillage. Conservation tillage is a group of practices that reduce the amount of tillage needed. No-till and strip tillage are both forms of conservation tillage. No-till is the practice of never tilling a field. Tilling every other year is called rotational tillage.
The effects of tillage can include soil compaction; loss of organic matter; degradation of soil aggregates; death or disruption of soil microbes and other organisms including mycorrhizae, arthropods, and earthworms;[2] and soil erosion where topsoil is washed or blown away.
Origin
The idea of modern no-till farming started in the 1940s with Edward H. Faulkner, author of Plowman's Folly,[3] but it wasn't until the development after WWII of powerful herbicides such as paraquat that various researchers and farmers started to try out the idea. The first adopters of no-till include Klingman (North Carolina), Edward Faulkner, L.A. Porter (New Zealand), Harry and Lawrence Young (Herndon, Kentucky), the Instituto de Pesquisas Agropecuarias Meridional (1971 in Brazil) with Herbert Bartz.[4]
Adoption in the United States
No-till farming is widely used in the United States and the number of acres managed in this way continues to grow. This growth is supported by a decrease in costs. No-till management results in fewer passes with equipment, and the crop residue prevents evaporation of rainfall and increases water infiltration into the soil.[5]
Issues
Profit, economics, yield
Some studies have found that no-till farming can be more profitable in some cases.[6][7]
In some cases it may reduce labour, fuel,[8] irrigation[9] and machinery costs.[7] No-till can increase yield because of higher water infiltration and storage capacity, and less erosion.[10] Another possible benefit is that because of the higher water content, instead of leaving a field fallow it can make economic sense to plant another crop instead.[11]
A problem of no-till farming is that in spring, the soil both warms and dries more slowly, which may delay planting. Harvest can thus occur later than in a conventionally tilled field. The slower warming is due to crop residue being a lighter color than the soil which would be exposed in conventional tillage, which then absorbs less solar energy. This can be managed by using row cleaners on a planter.[12]
Costs and management
No-till farming requires some different skills than conventional farming. A combination of technique, equipment, pesticides, crop rotation, fertilization, and irrigation have to be used for local conditions.
Equipment
On some crops, like continuous no-till corn, the thickness of the residue on the surface of the field can become a problem without proper preparation and/or equipment. No-till farming requires specialized seeding equipment, such as heavier seed drills to penetrate through the residue.[13] Ploughing requires more powerful tractors, so tractors can be smaller with no-tillage.[14] Costs can be offset by selling ploughs and tractors, but farmers often keep their old equipment while trying out no-till farming. This results in a higher investment into equipment.
Drainage
If a soil has poor drainage, it may need expensive drainage tiles or other devices to remove excess water under no-till. Water infiltration improves after 5–8 years of no-till farming.
Increased herbicide use
One of the purposes of tilling is to remove weeds. No-till farming changes weed composition: faster growing weeds may be reduced as increased competition with eventual growth of perennials, shrubs and trees. This problem is usually solved with a herbicide such as glyphosate in lieu of tillage for seedbed preparation, so no-tillage often uses more pesticides in comparison to conventional tillage. Some alternatives can be winter cover crops, soil solarization or burning. However the use of herbicides is not strictly necessary, as demonstrated by Masanobu Fukuoka.
No-till occasionally uses cover crops to help control weeds and increase organic residue in the soil (or nutrients by using legumes).[15] Cover crops then need to be killed so that the newly planted crops can get enough light, water, nutrients, etc.[16][17] This can be done by rollers, crimpers, choppers and other ways.[18][19] The residue is then planted through, and left as a mulch. Cover crops typically must be crimped when they enter the flowering stage.[20]
With no-till farming, residue from the previous years crops lie on the surface of the field, which can cause different, greater, or more frequent disease or weed problems[21] compared to tillage farming.[22]
Fertilizer
One of the most common yield reducers is nitrogen being immobilized in the crop residue, which can take a few months to several years to decompose, depending on the crop's C to N ratio and the local environment. Fertilizer needs to be applied at a higher rate.[23] An innovative solution to this problem is to integrate animal husbandry in various ways to aid in decomposition.[24] After a transition period (4–5 years for Kansas, USA) the soil may build up in organic matter. Nutrients in the organic matter are eventually released into the soil..
Environmental
Greenhouse gases
According to one 2003 study agriculture has released an estimated 78 billion metric tons of carbon in the last few centuries.[25] No-till farming has been claimed to increase soil organic matter, and thus increase carbon sequestration.[10][26] While many studies report soil organic carbon increases in no-till systems, others conclude that these effects may not be observed in all systems, depending on factors, such as climate and topsoil carbon content.[27] However, there is debate over whether the increased sequestration sometimes detected is actually occurring, or is due to flawed testing methods or other factors.[28] There is evidence that no-till systems sequester less carbon than conventional tillage. A 2014 study concluded that this occurs because the “no-till subsurface layer is often losing more soil organic carbon stock over time than is gained in the surface layer.” Also, there has not been a uniform definition of soil organic carbon sequestration among researchers.[29] The study concludes, "Additional investments in soil organic carbon (SOC) research is needed to better understand the agricultural management practices that are most likely to sequester SOC or at least retain more net SOC stocks."[30]
No-till farming reduces nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by 40-70%, depending on rotation.[31][32] Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, 300 times stronger than CO2, and stays in the atmosphere for 120 years.[33]
Soil
No-till farming improves aggregates[34] and reduces erosion.[35] Soil erosion might be reduced almost to soil production rates.[36]
Research from over 19 years of tillage studies at the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service found that no-till farming makes soil less erodible than ploughed soil in areas of the Great Plains. The first inch of no-till soil contains more aggregates and is two to seven times less vulnerable than that of ploughed soil. More organic matter in this layer is thought to help hold soil particles together.[37]
No ploughing also means less airborne dust.
Water
No-till farming improves water retention: crop residues helps water from natural precipitation and irrigation to infiltrate the soil. Residue limits evaporation, conserving water. Evaporation from tilling reduces the amount of water by around 1/3 to 3/4 inches (0.85 to 1.9 cm) per pass.[38]
Gully formation can cause soil erosion in some crops such as soybeans with no-tillage, although models of other crops under no-tillage show less erosion than conventional tillage. Grass waterways can be a solution.[39] Any gullies that form in fields not being tilled get deeper each year instead of being smoothed out by regular plowing.
A problem in some fields is water saturation in soils. Switching to no-till farming may increase drainage because soil under continuous no-till include a higher water infiltration rate.[40]
Biota and wildlife
No-tilled fields often have more annelids,[41] invertebrates and wildlife such as deer mice.[42]
Albedo
Tillage lowers the albedo of croplands. The potential for global cooling as a result of increased albedo in no-till croplands is similar in magnitude to other biogeochemical carbon sequestration processes.[43]
See also
- Conventional tillage
- Carbon farming
- Broadfork, a tool to aerate the soil without overturning
- Masanobu Fukuoka, one of the pioneers of no-till grain cultivation
- Natural farming
- Conservation agriculture
- No-dig gardening
- Permaculture
- Strip-till
References
- name=history of tillage Archived 2016-01-07 at the Wayback Machine
- Preston Sullivan (2004). "Sustainable Soil Management". Attra.ncat.org. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- "Is Organic Farming Better for the Environment? | Genetic Literacy Project". geneticliteracyproject.org. Retrieved 2018-01-09.
- Derpsch, Rolf. "A short History of No-till". NO- TILLAGE. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- Plumer, Brad (9 November 2013). "No-till farming is on the rise. That's actually a big deal" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
- D.L. Beck, J.L. Miller, and M.P. Hagny "Successful No-Till on the Central and Northern Plains"
- Derpsch, Rolf. "Economics of No-till farming. Experiences from Latin America" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- NRCS. "USDA-NRCS Energy Consumption Awareness Tool: Tillage". ecat.sc.egov.usda.gov.
- Network, University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Web Developer (2015-09-17). "How Tillage and Crop Residue Affect Irrigation Requirements - UNL CropWatch, April 5, 2013". CropWatch. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- "Better Management Practices: No-Till/Conservation Tillage". WWF. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- "Yield & Economic Comparisons: University Research Trials" (PDF). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2005.
- Network, University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Web Developer (2015-09-17). "Setting Planting Equipment for Successful No-till". CropWatch. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- "Mississippi State University Extension Service -". msucares.com.
- Casady, William W. "G1236 Farming With One Tractor"
- "TIPS FOR NO-TILL PLANTING INTO COVER CROPS" Penn. State University
- "No-Till Revolution". Rodale Institute. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- George Kuepper (June 2001). "Pursuing Conservation Tillage Systems for Organic Crop Production". Attra.ncat.org. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- "Crimping Cover Crops". Conservation Currents. Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- "Organic No-Till | Rodale Institute". rodaleinstitute.org. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
- "INTRODUCTION TO COVER CROP ROLLING & THE VAUSDA CRIMPER ROLLER DEMONSTRATION PROJECT" (PDF).
- Daryl D. Buchholz (October 1993). "No-Till Planting Systems". University of Missouri Extension. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- "Tillage has less effect on crop diseases than other factors". Top Crop Manager. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- Hartman, Murray. "Direct Seeding: Estimating the Value of Crop Residues". Government of Alberta: Agriculture and Rural Development. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- Tallman, Susan. "No-Till Case Study, Richter Farm: Cover Crop Cocktails in a Forage-Based System". National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. NCAT-ATTRA. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
- Lal, Rattan. "No-Till Farming Offers A Quick Fix To Help Ward Off Host Of Global Problems". Researchnews.osu.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- Carbon sequestration in two Brazilian Cerrado soils under no-till Bayer, C | Martin-Neto, L | Mielniczuk, J | Pavinato, A | Dieckow, J Soil and Tillage Research [Soil Tillageyhjs.]. Vol. 86, no. 2, p.237-245. Apr 2006.
- Read "Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda" at NAP.edu.
- Baker et al. (2007) Tillage and soil carbon sequestration—What do we really know?. Journal of Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. Volume 118, Issues 1–4
- "No-till soil organic carbon sequestration rates published". Science Daily. Retrieved 2012-04-21. April 18, 2014.
- Olson K.R., Al-Kaisi M.M., Lal R., Lowery B. (2014). Experimental Consideration, Treatments, and Methods in Determining Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Rates Archived 2014-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 78:2:pp.348-360. (Open access).
- Omonode, R. A.; Smith, D. R.; Gál, A.; Vyn, T. J. (2011). "Soil Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Corn following Three Decades of Tillage and Rotation Treatments". Soil Science Society of America Journal. 75 (1): 152. Bibcode:2011SSASJ..75..152O. doi:10.2136/sssaj2009.0147.
- Study: No-till farming reduces greenhouse gas San-Francisco Chronicle
- Wallheimer, Brian. "No-till, rotation can limit greenhouse gas emissions from farm fields". physorg.com. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- "Soil Management - The Soil Scientist". Extension.umn.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- "Conservation Tillage". Monsanto.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- Montgomery, David R. (2007). "Is agriculture eroding civilization's foundation?". GSA Today. 17 (10): 4. doi:10.1130/gsat01710a.1.
- Blanco-Canqui, H.; Mikha, M. M.; Benjamin, J. G.; Stone, L. R.; Schlegel, A. J.; Lyon, D. J.; Vigil, M. F.; Stahlman, P. W. (2009). "Regional Study of No-Till Impacts on Near-Surface Aggregate Properties that Influence Soil Erodibility". Soil Science Society of America Journal. 73 (4): 1361. Bibcode:2009SSASJ..73.1361B. doi:10.2136/sssaj2008.0401.
- http://cropwatch.unl.edu/input$/notill_irrigation.htm. Retrieved April 17, 2009. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - Elton Robinson (Aug 1, 2008). "Tilling ephemeral gullies can cost you soil". Deltafarmpress.com. Archived from the original on 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- Kindig, Wendy. "No till/Cover Crops Articles". York County Conservation District. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- Chan, K.Y (2001). "An overview of some tillage impacts on earthworm population abundance and diversity — implications for functioning in soils". Soil and Tillage Research. 57 (4): 179–191. doi:10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00173-2.
- D. B. Warburton and W. D. Klimstra; D. B. Warburton; W. D. Klimstra (1984-09-01). "Wildlife use of no-till and conventionally tilled corn fields". 39 (5). Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. Retrieved 2010-05-09. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - D. B. Lobell, G. Bala and P. B. Duffy; D. B. Lobell; G. Bala; P. B. Duffy (2006-03-23). "Biogeophysical impacts of cropland management changes on climate" (PDF). Geophysical Research Letters. 33 (6): L06708. Bibcode:2006GeoRL..33.6708L. doi:10.1029/2005GL025492. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
Further reading
- Wright, Sylvia (Winter 2006). "Pay Dirt". UC Davis Magazine. pp. 24–27. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
- Philpott, Tom (2013-09-09). "One Weird Trick to Fix Farms Forever". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
- Montgomery, David R. (2007). Dirt: the erosion of civilizations. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 9780520248700.
External links
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock; along with New Mexico University Extension Service. No-till and Cover Crops for Texas and New Mexico.
- No-Till Farmer Website