Code
A06
Sector
Agriculture
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

Tillage is a mechanical modification of the soil.  Intensive tillage can disturb the soil structure, thus increasing erosion, decreasing water retention capacity, reducing soil organic matter through the compaction and transformation of pores. No-till farming (also called zero tillage or direct drilling) is a way of growing crops or pasture from year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage. No-till is an agricultural technique which increases the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil and increases organic matter retention and cycling of nutrients in the soil. In many agricultural regions it can eliminate soil erosion. The most powerful benefit of no-tillage is improvement in soil biological fertility, making soils more resilient.

Illustration(s)

No-till seeder

Source: Gábor Ungvári’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1

Maize planted without tillage

Source: http://www.commodityonline.com/news/zero-tilling--a-popular-alternative-farming-method-35479-3-35480.html

Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
Low
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
Medium
BP8 - Reduce pollutant sources
High
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
Medium
BP11 - Improve soils
High
BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2
High
ES4 - Biodiversity preservation
Medium
ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation
Medium
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge
Medium
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
High
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
Medium
PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements
Medium
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Medium
PO5 - Improving quantitative status
Medium
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
Medium
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
High
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
Low
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
Low

Case studies per NWRM