What is conservation tillage?
In the Midwest, where soil erosion by water is a concern, conservation tillage systems leave at least 30 percent of the soil surface covered with crop residues after planting. Western regions of the United States, susceptible to wind erosion, define conservation tillage as any system that leaves on the surface at least 1,000 pounds per acre of flat, small grain residue equivalent throughout the critical wind erosion period. The most common conservation tillage systems in Indiana use chisel plows, tandem discs, field cultivators and a variety of “one-pass” tools (Figure 1). These systems are also known as “mulch-till” systems. Following heavy residue crops such as corn, wheat or sod, these tools usually leave 30 percent or more residue cover.
