What is no-till and how does it differ from conservation tillage?
Conservation tillage involves minimal soil disturbance to prepare ground for crops, as compared to conventional plowing, disking, and harrowing methods. A variety of approaches may be used to accomplish conservation tillage, and they differ mainly by the amount of soil disturbed. Generally speaking, at least 30 percent of the soil remains covered by stubble and/or residue from a previous crop to be considered conservation tillage. Weeds may be controlled with cover crops or herbicides rather than through cultivation. The practice has been largely embraced by some sectors of agriculture and is often preceded by an application of herbicide to kill a cover crop or other unwanted growth. No-till methods directly seed into a previous crops standing or processed stubble. The soil may be sliced or drilled into for seed placement. No-till techniques may also be coupled with herbicidal applications. The USDA considers no-till a subset of conservation techniques that include ridge-tilling and na
