Types of Conservation Tillage: Their Advantages and Disadvantages

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Types of Conservation Tillage
  • No Till Method
  • Strip Till Method
  • Ridge Till Method
  • Mulch Till Method
• Conclusion

Introduction

Conservation tillage is a modern farming method that emphasises on sustainability. Instead of digging up the soil a lot when planting, it keeps things simple. It helps keep the soil healthy, protects the environment and makes farmers more money.

Conservation tillage, also known as Conservation Agriculture, is one of the soil conservation methods in India. It is widely practiced in Indo-Gangetic Plains where wheat and rice are main cereal crops. In these areas, zero till or no till is prevalent form of conservation tillage. The other types of conservation tillage practiced in India are Mulch till, Ridge till, and Strip till.

Let us check out the types of conservation tillage along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Types of Conservation Tillage

No-Till Method of Conservation Tillage

No-till or zero till is a method of farming that keeps the soil mostly as it is without digging it up much. There's no ploughing, and leftover parts of the plants stay on top of the soil. We put seeds directly into the ground through these crop residues. Before planting, we don't disturb the soil much.

We plant seeds in a small space made by a precision planter or zero till and control weeds mostly by using herbicides. This helps stop soil from washing away and keeps more water in the soil.

Advantages of No-Till

• No-till not only prevents soil erosion but also helps develop organic matter.
• It saves fuel and time because farmers don't have to go back and forth across the field as much with heavy machines. Also, it results in lesser compaction of the soil.
• The farmer spends less money on equipment because they don't need tools like a plough or cultivator.
• The residue cover acts as a shield against wind and water erosion, protecting the precious topsoil.

Disadvantages of No-Till

• No-till demands expertise and thus can be challenging.
• Weed management solely relies on herbicides.
• Only surface-applied herbicides can be used.

Strip-Till Method of Conservation Tillage

Strip tillage involves tilling strips of soil in the planting row. The strips are tilled, and the remaining soil in between them is left largely undisturbed. It improves planting accuracy while reducing soil erosion and saves energy and cost by reducing the need for tilling the entire field.

Advantages of Strip-Till

• A reduced amount of herbicides is used as they are applied in a strip of band.
• Clean strips of soil get warm faster than ground covered with residues.
• There is improved seed-soil contact due to clean strips.
• A lesser number of trips are required than conventional tillage.
• There is less soil compaction in the planting area due to restricted traffic.

Disadvantages of Strip-Till

• Clean strips are made with special equipment.
• Due to the need for special equipment, this method becomes more costly.
• It is limited primarily to row crops.
• The requirement of soil moisture becomes more critical during planting time.

Ridge-Till Method of Conservation Tillage

Ridge-till makes raised beds by pushing soil into ridges. These ridges become seedbeds, keeping the soil drier and warmer for seeds to grow. It helps save water, makes roots grow better and stops erosion.

Before planting, we don't disturb the soil. Instead, we make beds on raised areas using ridger, row cleaners like disks and sweeps. During cultivation, the ridges are built again. We control weeds via cultivation or herbicides.

Advantages of Ridge-Till

• There is less interference of crop residues during planting as they are placed between ridges.
• The top surface of ridges forms an ideal seedbed.
• Ridge-till reduces erosion significantly.
• Cultivation controls weeds and helps form ridges again for the following year.
• The damage due to soil compaction on the planting area is reduced due to controlled traffic.
• It facilitates good weed suppression and better aeration during wet periods.

Disadvantages of Ridge-Till

• For planting on ridges, you need a special planter attachment.
• It also demands expert skills for the most productive farming.
• The widths of wheels or tyres of tractors and fertiliser spreaders have to be adjusted as per the distance between the ridges.

Mulch-Till Method of Conservation Tillage

Mulch-till is a conservation tillage system that maintains crop residues over the field and partly mixes them in the soil before planting. This helps keep the soil moist and full of organic matter, and it also stops soil from washing away.

The whole surface is dug up before planting using tools like cultivators and chisel ploughs. We control weeds by cultivation or using herbicides.

Advantages of Mulch-Till

• Mulch-till is also applicable on poorly drained soils.
• There are more options for managing weeds.
• There is more infiltration compared to conventional tillage.
• Even though we dig up the entire surface, we leave enough crop residues on top to greatly lessen erosion.

Disadvantages of Mulch-Till

• It has costs related to fuel, equipment, and labour that are like conventional tillage.
• There is more soil compaction due to more trips across the field.
• Limited erosion can happen as some crop residue gets buried.

Conclusion

Conservation tillage methods provide several benefits, including soil preservation, better water and nutrient retention, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions. In India, popular conservation tillage techniques include no-till, mulch till, ridge-till and strip-till.

Each type has its pros and cons, giving farmers options to choose from based on their preferences. By implementing these techniques effectively and making advancements in farming practices, conservation tillage becomes a promising approach for sustainable agriculture in India.