Why till

Young soybean plants thrive in the resiue of a wheat crop. This form of no till farming provides good protection for the soil from erosion and helps retain moisture for the new crop.

No-till farming is nothing new. It was used as far back as 10, years ago. Farmers adopted the method because it allowed them to plant more seeds while expending less effort. Tilling involves turning over the first 6 — 10 inches of soil before planting new crops. This practice works surface crop residues, animal manure and weeds deep into the field, blending it into the soil.

It also aerates and warms the soil. Sounds like a good thing, right? Unfortunately, in the long run, tilling does more harm than good. Tillage loosens and removes any plant matter covering the soil, leaving it bare.

Bare soil, especially soil that is deficient in rich organic matter, is more likely to be eroded by wind and water. Think of it this way: Undisturbed soil resembles a sponge, held together by an intricate structure of different soil particles and channels created by roots and soil organisms.

When the soil is disturbed by tilling, its structure becomes less able to absorb and infiltrate water and nutrients. The long-term use of deep tillage can convert healthy soil into a lifeless growing medium dependent on chemical inputs for productivity. From a soil perspective, the benefits of no-till farming far outnumber those of tillage-based systems. Tilling is a good way to amend and enrich your garden soil. Although tillers and cultivators are often thought of as the same thing, they are two very different pieces of equipment.

Learn the difference between cultivators and tillers with help from Troy-Bilt. Skip to Main Content. Financing Now Available for Online Purchases. Knowledge Center Gardening How-to Tillers.

The Benefits of Tilling. So, before you start another planting season, here are some reasons why you should consider tilling as a routine seasonal project: Aeration Suffocated soil can leave your garden looking dry, not to mention deter plant growth. Weed Prevention Weeds and insects can be very problematic and hinder or even stop the growth of plants in your garden. Balancing Whether you choose to fill your garden with colorful flowers or veggies and fruits, you can keep your plants flourishing with the proper soil balance.

Tips on Tilling, Tilling Patterns and Tilling on Slopes When tilling, watering the garden area a few days prior will make the task easier, as will letting the newly worked soil set for a day or two before making a final, deep tilling pass. Here are some additional tips related to tilling patterns and areas: When preparing a seedbed, go over the same path twice in the first row, then overlap one-half the tiller width on the rest of the passes.

When finished in one direction, make a second pass at a right angle. Overlap each pass for best results. In very hard ground, it may take three or four passes to thoroughly pulverize the soil. If the garden size will not permit lengthwise and then crosswise tilling, then overlap the first passes by one-half a tiller width, followed by successive passes at one-quarter width. Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep ground where footing is difficult. Tilling up and down slopes is recommended rather than terracing.

With no-till, the improved soil structure and moisture conserving residue cover makes more water available for crop production by improving infiltration and decreasing evaporation from the soil surfa ce. Read more. Paul Jasa Extension Engineer Skip to main content. Tillage Systems Descriptions There are a variety of tillage systems available for crop production. Tillage breaks up soil structure and destroys residue. The tilled plot on the left has little soil structure, resulting in problems with soil crusting and crop emergence.

The no-till plot on the right has a protective layer of residue which absorbs raindrop impact and reduces evaporation from the soil surface. The tillage has beat down the soil elevation on the left, compared to the no-till surface on the right, reducing the pore spaces in the soil profile.