Water Conservation – A Benefit Of No Till Farming

Water is a precious resource in farming, one which becomes even more valuable during dry or droughty conditions.

One of the primary benefits of no till farming, versus conventional tillage, is water conservation.

With no till planting, the soil is never plowed or tilled. The previous season’s crops are left in place, and no till drill or planter equipment cuts through the debris to make a seed furrow, place the seeds, firm the seeds and then close the furrow.

The soil is only barely disturbed, which leads to more fertile, resilient soils that have higher water-holding capacity. Soil pores serve as the conduits for water, and with no till, there is less clogging of the pores, which means water can flow even more freely.

Those crop residues that are left behind in no till farming also play an incredibly important role in both water usage and conservation.

Here are some of the ways in which the crop residue can impact water and soil:

• crop residue can trap snow, which can lead to more moist soil after the spring melt
• crop residue acts as a protective cover and helps moderate soil temperatures
• crop residue helps reduce evaporation at the soil surface
• crop residue helps prevent water run off
• crop residue helps prevent soil erosion

Want to know more about no till agriculture, also referred to as zero tillage farming? Check out our no till farming facts.

Check out our catalog of no till equipment parts – you can view, download a PDF, or we’ll be happy to mail you a catalog.
At Exapta, we have more than 100 parts and equipment for no till farming. For more information, call (800) 417-8020, or e-mail info@notillagriculture.com.

Please click to read about how no till farming can reduce your costs.

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