Conservation Tillage

No-till planting

No-till Planting No-till Planting This planting system prepares a seedbed 2 inches wide or less, leaving most of the surface undisturbed and still covered with crop residues. The result is a wetter, colder environment that protects the seed and soil with its insulating effect of the surface residue.


Strip Rotary Tillage

A strip four to eight inches wide and two to four inches deep is prepared by a rotary tiller, while the rest of the soil is left undisturbed. The soil is conserved because of the crop residues between the tillage strips.

Till Planting

This plowing technique sweeps the crop residues into the area between the rows of crops. Soil density between these rows remains relatively high because of the absence of tillage. This soil is difficult for raindrops to detach and runoff to move.

Annual Ridges

Also known as permanent ridges or ridge tillage, the annual ridges are formed by using a rolling disk bedder, and planting is done after only minor spring seedbed preparation. The extent of soil conservation depends on the amount of residue left and the row direction. Planting on the contour plus increased surface residues greatly reduce soil loss.

Chiseling

This system does not turn the soil over, but rather leaves it rough and cloddy with plenty of crop residue remaining. The soil density and amount of covering depends on the depth, size, shape, spacing, and so on of the chisel blades. The residue and rough, cloddy surface fo the soil reduces raindrops impact and reduces runoff velocities thus reducing erosion.

Disking

This system pulverizes the soil and gives great soil density The effect is similar to that of chiseling with results also depending on the depth, size, spacing, and so on of the disk blades. The deeper the disking, the fewer the residues that remain on the surface.

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