Promoting Sustainability With Conservation Tillage in Agriculture

Tillage systems have long been utilized in order to prepare soil for planting, remove plant residue, control weeds, and loosen compacted topsoil. However, reducing mechanical operations and soil disturbance in fields can result in greater benefits for both the environment and farmers alike.

Conservation tillage is a farming approach that minimizes the frequency or intensity of tillage operations with the aim of achieving economic and environmental benefits. This method offers several advantages, including reduced carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, lower dependence on farm machinery, and decreased fuel and labor costs. Furthermore, conservation tillage practices can enhance soil health, prevent erosion, and limit runoff. By integrating conservation tillage into agricultural systems, it can contribute to sustainability efforts and bring about an array of environmental and economic advantages.

By minimizing tillage, soil erosion and associated air and water pollution can be reduced, as well as fuel expenditures and production costs. Conservation tillage, including no-till, strip till, ridge till, and mulch till systems, maintains at least 30% of plant residue on the soil surface after tillage. When compared to conventional practices, minimum tillage systems can lead to a 40% or greater reduction in tillage passes. These techniques aim to maintain soil, environmental, and economic viability through minimizing soil disturbance and preserving surface residues.

Conservation tillage techniques offer ecological benefits, such as reducing wind and water erosion, runoff, or particulate matter and nutrient loss, resulting in improved air and water quality. In addition, tillage reduction can promote soil aggregation, enhance biological activity, and increase water holding capacity and infiltration rates, leading to greater soil moisture, improved soil tilth, and increased organic matter content. Alongside the environmental benefits, reducing tillage can prove to be economically advantageous for farmers by reducing labor, machinery wear, and fuel consumption.

Despite the benefits of conservation tillage, improper implementation can result in a loss of productivity or profitability. For example, mechanical weed control through tillage is an important practice for many growers looking to reduce reliance on herbicides. If tillage is reduced, farmers may be inclined to utilize more chemical inputs to control weeds, while insect, rodent, and pathogen pest problems may increase with tillage reduction due to the continuous presence of plant residue on the soil surface.

Low Till, No-Till conservation practices are among the conservation practices that are taught at outreach workshops that will be presented by Ag Outreach. Subject matter experts (SMEs) share their knowledge and experience in the agriculture industry with historically underserved farmers.

For more information visit the USDA website at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/climate/climate-smart-mitigation-activities