No-Till Planting

Why

Conservation tillage boosts soil organic matter, soil tilth, infiltration, and the soil's water holding capacity which may all together improve crop yields. Conventional tillage leaves the soil surface bare, increasing erosion and sediment and nutrient losses. Conventional tillage can also create a so-called “plow pan,” a zone of compaction which roots can barely penetrate. With conservation tillage, farmers leave much of the soil and crop residue intact, reducing compaction caused by plowing and minimizing erosion. These techniques reduce nitrous oxide emissions and create a more natural soil profile with improved nutrient cycling, water retention, soil biology, and aeration. Conservation tillage may require less time on the tractor and offer savings in labor, fuel, and equipment maintenance costs. 

How

Conservation tillage is practical for any farmer who grows annual crops though it often requires the use of equipment customized for the practice. This may include devices such as no-till or strip-till planters or drills, strip-type fertilizer applicators, in-row chisels, coulters, sweeps, aeration tillers, and others. Where low-residue crops such as silage corn are grown, a fall-planted cover crop may be necessary to protect the soil surface from erosion. Fall-planted cover crops also provide a number of agronomic benefits and should be considered for those reasons as well. 

Read the VT NRCS No-Till Practice Standard here. 

Associated & Complimentary Practices

• Cover Cropping

• Integrated Pest Management