Explain the no-till roller system’s effect on soil biology. What about soil compaction?
Since our no-till system provides a continuous root zone (with the noted exception in the next paragraph), we create a very hospitable environment for the beneficial micro-and macro organisms that build up the soil and make water, air and nutrients more available to crop plants. This system also creates biomass, both above and below the ground, which adds organic matter that feeds these microbes and stimulates their activity. Some of the microbes (mycorrhizae fungi) produce hyphae, microscopic hairs that branch out from the root system up to 18 feet and produce glomulin, the “Super Glue” that binds soil particles and increases aggregate stability. The minimized soil disturbance also helps build up soil carbon reserves. When you also consider the benefits of better water infiltration and less erosion, it’s easy to see how soil health is improved. As far as soil compaction goes, in our system we only no-till for two or three years in a row, then we use a plow. So, in that sense, we are n
