Return to The Story of Water and Soil MAIN MENU
Thinking about switching your land to a no-till operation? There are many different benefits in changing to no-till. No-till is a type of agricultural system in which the soil remains undisturbed before planting. The only time the soil is disturbed is to incorporate fertilizer, such as liquid manure or anhydrous ammonia.
No-till leaves residue from the previous crop on the surface of the soil, which results in better soil quality, improved soil organic matter over time, high yields, less soil lost, less surface runoff, and better infiltration of water. No-till also requires less field time, fuel consumption, tractor power requirements, and labor costs. When tillage is eliminated from the field, the soil is able to develop soil structure, which will improve the health of the land over time. With no-till, it’s possible to improve the health of your soil, while keeping more money in your pocket!
Video - Converting your Planter for No-Till Operation (Iowa Learning Farms)
Transition to No-Till (Iowa Learning Farms)
Considerations in Selecting No-Till (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)