Zero tillage is also called no-till farming or direct planting or pasture cropping is a way of growing crops from year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage. The idea of modern no-till started in the 1940s with Edward Faulkner. No-till is an agricultural technique which increases the amount of water and organic matter (nutrients) in the soil and decreases erosion. It increases the amount and variety of life in and on the soil but may require herbicide usage.
On the other hand, tilling is used to remove weeds, shape the soil into rows for crop plants and furrows for irrigation. This leads to unfavorable effects, like soil compaction; loss of organic matter; degradation of soil aggregates; death or disruption of soil microbes and other organisms including mycorrhiza, arthropods, and earthworms; and soil erosion where topsoil is blown or washed away.
Methods of conservation tillage:
Zero tillage (no-till, minimum tillage, or direct seeding): A system where the soil is not disturbed between harvesting one crop and planting the next. It is a crop production where the soil is not traditionally tilled or cultivated although sticks or other planting equipments are used to make the openings for seeds.
Ridge tillage: A specific form of no-till wherein a new crop is planted on pre-formed ridges or hills or bunds from those of the previous crop. After harvest, the crop residues are left until the planting time. The seeds are sown along the ridges. Sticks or other farms tools are used to make the openings for seeds.
Mulch tillage (stubble mulch tillage): Any system that ensures a maximum retention of crop residues (30% or more) on the soil surface. The soil is prepared in such a way that plant residues or other mulching materials are specifically left on or near the surface of the farm.
Advantages of Zero Tillage:
- Less tillage of the soil reduces labour, fuel, irrigation and machinery costs;
- No-till can increase yield because of higher water infiltration and storage capacity;
- Another benefit of no-till is that because of the higher water content, instead of leaving field fallows it can make economic sense to plant another crop instead;
- Some large energy corporations which are among the greatest generators of fossil-fuel-related pollution are willing to purchase carbon credits to encourage farmers to engage in conservation tillage. The farmers’ land essentially becomes a carbon sink for the power generators’ emissions;
- Reduced soil salinity, which is better for plant growth, and conservation of natural soil structure;
- Reduction of soil erosion by the wind since the crop residue cover isn’t plowed under the soil;
- Earthworms, and other biological organisms, are left alone to live and manipulate the soil by creating tunnels, which otherwise would be created by tilling. This allows for good movement of water and air throughout the soil for good plant growth.
Myths about Zero Tillage:
A common perception by farmers is that zero tilling doesn’t work, that crop yields will be lower and that crop quality is poorer. Some people think that a zero tilled field is less esthetically pleasing since the field is left alone with plant and weed residues over its surface, indicating the potential for increased pesticide or herbicide costs. However, these perceptions may be false. It takes approximately 5 years before a real benefit can be observed and demonstrated, and most people tend to ignore benefits that aren’t readily seen.
Constraints of Zero Tillage:
- Needs a thorough understanding of the concept and requires careful farm management practices to be successful.
- Most soil pests populations are increased.
- Weeds compete with the main crops.
- High tendency of a carryover of the insect pests and diseases from the crop residues.
- Organic matters are not evenly distributed or are concentrated at the topsoil.
- It needs patience and waits a longer time to have an excellent soil.
Consequently, Zero tillage has received much attention throughout the world in recent years because of its various benefits. In developed countries, zero tillage depends on surface residue mulch and herbicides for controlling weeds. Although used primarily in developed countries for relatively large-scale farming conditions, the principles of zero tillage apply equally well to small-scale farming operations in the tropics. In practice, zero tillage, especially on small farms in less developed countries, may be different because farmers may not have the resources to acquire suitable zero tillage planters or herbicides. However, these are not prerequisites for zero tillage because seeds can be planted in holes punched in soil and weeds can be controlled by slashing or hoeing.
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