The adoption of non-inversion tillage systems in the United Kingdom and the agronomic impact on soil, crops and the environment—A review

Flashcards reviewing the key concepts of non-inversion tillage systems, their impacts, and considerations for their adoption.

What is Non-Inversion Tillage?

Tillage that maintains at least 30% residue cover on the soil surface after drilling.

Why is Non-Inversion Tillage used?

To reduce the risk of soil erosion, conserve soil organic matter and improve soil structural stability.

What opportunities can non-inversion tillage offer?

Fuel use, timeliness of cultivations, and improved soil erosion control.

What is Primary Tillage?

Primary tillage involves inverting the soil using a mouldboard plough.

What is the role of tines in non-inversion tillage?

Removing shallow compaction layers.

What is the role of discs in non-inversion tillage?

They cut and mix the straw residue and any soil clods to leave a fine tilth.

What is Direct Drilling?

Sowing crops directly into the previous crop stubble with no prior cultivation since harvesting.

What is Strip Tillage?

Disturbance of less than one third of the total field is cultivated.

What are the potential benefits of strip tillage over conventional tillage?

Improvements to soil physical properties and the enhancement to in-field biodiversity.

What 'performance measures' influence the adoption of particular tillage systems?

System costs, crop yield and quality, and environmental and biodiversity effects.

At what three phases can overall system costs be compared?

Crop establishment, crop growth during the season, and crop harvest.

Why are conventional tillage systems more costly?

They require more passes with a machine and require several implements to create a satisfactory seedbed.

Why has pest control, mainly with slugs, proved more of a concern with non-inversion tillage?

Increased amounts of surface residue compared to conventional tillage.

What is seen as a primary constraint to the uptake of non-inversion tillage systems in Europe?

Fear of reduced yields.

How have non-inversion tillage systems helped the environment?

Increasing the build-up of organic matter and hence maintaining surface stability of the soil.

What are the three main classifications of crop residues?

Short, clean-crop stubble, tall root-anchored standing vegetation, and lying, detached straw.

What did Børresen and Njos (1990) find in their study?

Straw cover on the soil surface reduced the mean soil temperature.

How does crop residue left on the soil surface impact crop establishment and final crop yield?

Crop residue left on the soil surface affects the accumulation of organic matter, soil temperature, soil moisture and soil erodibility.

How do non-inversion tillage systems reduce water erosion?

By reducing surface runoff through increased infiltration and retaining crop residue reduced water and soil particle flow by micro-impoundment of surface water.

What is an important aim of soil tillage?

To ensure that the seedbed created is optimally structured for the germination and establishment of the following crop.