Tillage is the agricultural preparation of the soil by mechanical agitation of various types, such as digging, stirring and overturning. What are the benefits of practicing conservation tillage on a farm?
1. Less soil erosion
2. Fewer trips across the field, thereby saving fuel and machinery costs
3. Less groundwater contamination by pesticides
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Conservation tillage is any method of soil cultivation that leaves the previous year’s crop residue (such as corn stalks or wheat stubble) on fields before and after planting the next crop, to reduce soil erosion and runoff.
Conservation tillage systems also benefit farmers by reducing fuel consumption and soil compaction. By reducing the number of times the farmer travels over the field, farmers realize significant savings in fuel and labor. There are some concerns about it, particularly concerning impacts on water quality and on pests.
Conservation tillage systems offer numerous benefits that intensive or conventional tillage simply can’t match:
1. Reduces labor, saves time
2. Saves fuel
3. Reduces machinery wear
4. Improves soil tilth
5. Increases organic matter
6. Traps soil moisture to improve water availability
7. Reduces soil erosion
8. Improves water quality
9. Increases wildlife
10. Improves air quality