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 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.
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.
