Conservation Tillage
What is it?
Conservation tillage includes minimun tillage or no-tillage practices and should replace traditional complete tillage practices. Traditional tillage practices completely turn over the entire pasture or field exposing valuable soil to wind and rain erosion. Minimum tillage leaves atleast 30% of the soil surface covered ( from AgriLife Service ) and no-tillage involves leaving the soil undisturbed after the harvest and involves minimal soil disturbance at the next harvest for nutrient application and seed planting. Conservation tillage practices will substantially reduce the amount of soil lost from wind and soil erosion which will decrease soil entering streams.
Conservation Benefits
- Reduces soil erosion from farms and upland habitats
- Reduces siltation (soildin streams
What does it include?
Minimum tillage: leaves atleast 30% of the soil surface covered ( from AgriLife Service ). The soil can be covered with plant debris from the harvest, compost, or green manure.
No-tillage: leaves the soil undisturbed after the harvest and involves minimal soil disturbance at the next harvest for nutrient application and seed planting.
Conservation Tillage Links
- Conservation residue management and conservation tillage (TWDB, TSSWCB, Texas Water Conservation Implemenation Task Force)
- Conservation tillage (Chesapeake Bay Program)
- Conservation tillage (The University of California at Davis Agricultural GIS Laboratory)
Conservation Tillage Bibliography
- Belvins et al. 1983. Influence of conservation tillage on soil properties. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 38:301-305.
- Cogo et al. 1983. Soil loss reductions from conservation tillage practices. Soil Science Society of America Journal 48: 368-373.
- Crosson. 1981. Conservation tillage and conventional tillageL a comparative analysis. Soil Science Society of America 35 pp.
- Lai. 1989. Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture: tropics versus temperate climates. Advances in Agronomy 42: 85-197.