Like clean air and water, healthy soil is essential to life. Unfortunately, it is being destroyed in mass quantities.  One of the biggest contributors to soil degradation is plowing. Tillage loosens and removes any plant matter covering the soil leaving it more susceptible to erosion. Undisturbed soil resembles a sponge, held together the structure of different soil particles and channels created by roots and soil organisms. When the soil is disturbed by tilling, this structure collapses and becomes less able to absorb and infiltrate water and nutrients. Tilling also kills off the microbes and insects that form healthy soil biology.

Many farmers are transitioning to no-till farming to prevent soil loss and breathe new life into old soil. No-till farming involves planting the seed directly into the soil without plowing, tilling or disking. There are a number of benefits to this type of farming. It saves the farmer time and fuel costs by not having to make so many passes across the field. No-till practices also allow the soil structure to stay intact and protects the soil by leaving crop residue on the soil surface. Improved soil structure and cover increase the soil’s ability to absorb and infiltrate water, which in turn reduces soil erosion and runoff and prevents pollution from entering nearby water sources. No-till practices also slow evaporation, which not only means better absorption of rainwater, but it also increases irrigation efficiency, ultimately leading to higher yields, especially during hot and dry weather.  Soil microorganisms, fungi and bacteria, critical to soil health, also benefit from no-till practices. When soil is left undisturbed, beneficial soil organisms can establish their communities and feed off of the soil’s organic matter.

The Conservation District can help with the process of transitioning to no-till farming. The District has two no-till drills. The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance is a farmer-to-farmer group that can also give advice and guidance to farmers wishing to covert to no-till planting.  

Click here to learn more about renting one of our drills.