Comparison of Till, Low-Till, and No-Till Farming Methods

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Basics

  • This page goes over Tilling , Low-Till , and No-Till farming methods
  • They all have advantages and disadvantages
  • This page will explore these and make the decision on which method easier for farmers deciding which method to use

Till

Advantages

  • Easier to automate due to simplicity in tools used
  • Can be useful in the stages of building up weak soil as nutrients can be added in and mixed in
  • Easier to control weeds due to mechanical disruption + burying of weeds
  • Airates the soil
  • In wetter areas the drying of the soil may be benneficial

Disadvantages

  • SOIL EROSION, due to the soil beng loosened it can erode easily
  • Lower levels of microbes and small lifeforms (such as earthworms0 in the soil layer
  • Lower water absorbtion
  • Can compact the soil Tillage Pan
  • Can lead to soil depletion long term

Low-Till

  • This has many forms that it can be subdivided into; Mulch Till, Strip Till, and simply reducing the frequency of tilling (this page will explore the first two)

Advantages

  • Simpler to do than No-Till due to using some of the same equipment just with different depth levels or gaps
  • Still has many of the advantages on No-Till farming

Disadvantages

  • May still disrupt the microbe and earthworm biome to a certain extent, albeit lesser than the intensive till method
  • Same other dissadvantages as No-Till

No-Till

Advantages

  • Low Erosion
  • Large amount of Sub Surface life such as soil microbes and earthworms
  • Better Water Absorbtion
  • Less likely to degrade soil long term

Dissadvantages

  • More Difficult to Plant (Requires manual labor ( WaterWheel Planter,or more complex automated devices
  • Less effective at building up weak soils
  • More difficult to apply fertilizer and nutrients to all levels due to not being able to mix it in
  • Weed Control More Difficult/Intensive (Either high amounts of manual weeding, steam/flame weeders, or herb/pesticides)

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