The no-till system (reduced tillage) is increasingly gaining popularity in Poland. In short, it involves preparing the field for sowing without using a standard plow. The main advantages of plowless tillage are sufficient loosening and aeration of the soil for crops, but also, thanks to a much smaller inversion of the soil, reduced evaporation, i.e. water loss. The no-till system also reduces the number of trips over the field and thus the amount of fuel burned. This reflects positively on the environment through lower emissions and on the farm’s finances through lower fuel consumption. By reducing the number of passes in the field, we also save time, so we are more likely to meet the optimum sowing time. The unquestionable advantage of the no-till system is also improved soil structure and increased humus. This is because by loosening the soil without turning it over, crop residues remain in the topsoil decomposing under aerobic conditions. This makes them more readily available for the following crop. The no-till system works much better on light, more permeable soils, because by mixing the soil without turning it too much, we significantly reduce water loss, especially needed on sandy soils. Despite its many advantages, no-till cultivation also has several disadvantages. Some of these include, for example: greater weed infestation and the need to use machinery typically designed for no-till, which has a higher power requirement than a standard plow. In our opinion, nonetheless, no-till cultivation has more positive aspects than negative ones. It can be expected that in the future more and more farms will switch to this tillage system.
Principles and machinery for no-till
Ploughless tillage has many advantages for the soil and the farm, but it is not the easiest system. Ploughless tillage, despite the fact that it is carried out without the use of a plow, requires loosening of the soil to the depth of a standard presowing plow (20-25 cm). For this procedure, the AGROLAND KRYPTON PLUS 300 no-till unit with a working width of 3 meters, equipped with a spring-loaded safety of the ridges, in which the working range reaches up to 30 cm deep into the ground, and the optimal working speed is in the range from 8 to 10 km/h, will be ideal. With such parameters, we are able to loosen the soil deep enough and properly mix harvest residues. Another machine that performs very well in the no-till system is the AGROLAND MAHIT PLUS 300 chisel plow with a working width of 3 meters as well, equipped with 7 hydraulically secured tines and a double spike roller. Thanks to the long undercut tines, we are able to work to a depth of up to 50 cm, effectively destroying the plow sole and sufficiently mixing crop residues to prepare the field for sowing. The double spike roller located at the rear of the machine breaks up clods and compacts the soil. The best results with the chisel plow are achieved when working at a depth of about 35 cm, maintaining an operating speed of between 6 and 10 km/h. In summary, the no-till system involves loosening the soil to the depth of standard pre-sowing plowing without turning the soil, thus preserving biological life, carbon and increasing humus levels in the topsoil. No-till promotes the development of the root system and creates optimal conditions for the growth of the crop while preserving more moisture than with a standard plow. Unfortunately, for no-till we need to use modern equipment typically adapted to this system of tillage.
