What is a disadvantage to using no-till?
Written by
Paul Reynolds
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.The potential advantages of no-till are 47% higher soil organic matter and 66% less diesel, but the hard part is figuring out how to mitigate the high costs of converting to no-till. According to the USDA, 21% of U.S cropland is managed under no-till, mainly for a long-term gain in profits, despite upfront investments in planter modifications and cover crop systems.
Equipment Retrofits
- Row cleaners: $800-$1,200 per planter unit
- Downforce systems: Ensure seed depth consistency
- GPS guidance: Reduces overlap waste by 12%
Cover Crop Management
- Cereal rye: Suppresses weeds 85% with fall planting
- Clover mixes: Fix 45 lb/acre of nitrogen
- Termination timing: 50-60% flowering for optimal biomass
The 3-5 year transition stage will certainly challenge your patience, but ultimately reward you with compounding returns. By the end of Year 3, the savings from fuel will have offset 60% of your equipment costs. By the end of Year 5, the sale of carbon credits and reduced inputs will yield 33% higher net profits than conventional tillage-based systems.
Erosion Control improves water quality by reducing phosphorus runoff by 85% in no-till fields. State and local conservation districts implement best management practices. These practices are buffer strips of switchgrass that filter contaminants before reaching waterways. Planting switchgrass meets EPA water quality requirements and saves municipalities $18/acre per year in water treatment costs.
Read the full article: No Till Benefits: Boost Soil Health & Farm Profits
