Published Jul 10, 2024
No-till farming, or zero-till, avoids disturbing soil. It uses special machines to plant seeds and apply fertilizer in one pass. If crop residues cause problems, minimal tilling between seasons may be needed.
Conventional no-till farming uses synthetic herbicides, while organic no-till relies on crop rotation, cover crops, and grazing. Both methods aim to restore soil health and reduce environmental impact.
No-till farming is eco-friendly and cost-effective. Benefits include reduced ploughing costs, lower fuel use, faster seeding, less labour, conserved soil moisture etc.
No-till farming challenges include initial equipment costs, complex pest and weed management, crop diseases from residue, and delayed soil recovery. Precision agriculture tools can help adapt to local conditions.
No-till farming methods include field mulching to control weeds and crop rotation to manage pests, prevent soil erosion, and enrich soil nutrients.
No-till farming originated from limited tools in ancient times. Today, it's driven by ecological benefits, like improving soil and environmental health, contrasting with traditional ploughing methods.