Tilled soil is more vulnerable to erosion by wind and rain, and fragile soils cannot tolerate annual plowing without undergoing severe degradation. In addition to physically pulverizing the soil and exposing it to the elements, excessive tillage accelerates oxidation of soil organic matter and carbon dioxide emissions, disrupts important components of the soil food web, and can diminish the soil’s capacity to hold water and nutrients. Even where favorable topography and climate minimize the loss of soil due to erosion, overtilled soils become less fertile, less resilient, and more prone to compaction as a result of the loss of organic matter. During the first half of the 20th century, growing concern with soil degradation gave rise to the soil conservation and organic farming movements to address soil erosion and declining soil health, respectively.
Organic farmers recognize healthy, living soil as the foundation of successful farming, and many seek practical means to reduce tillage in order to protect the soil organic matter, soil life, and improved tilth built up through green manures, compost applications and other organic practices. Without the use of herbicides, continuous no-till management is not practical for organic production of vegetables, grains, and other annual crops. A more realistic goal is to reduce the frequency and intensity of tillage in organic annual crop rotations.
In this guide you will learn about different no-till approaches and challenges of organic conservation tillage, get detailed information from 4 case studies as well as resources on conservation tillage in organic systems and more on current on conservation tillage.
