zero tillage
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Zero tillage : A profitable resource saving technology in Indian and Global context
Speaker : Sunil Kumar(A-2010-30-21)
INTRODUCTION
Issues Conventional tillage Zero tillage
Erosion Maximum Less
Soil physical health
compaction
Increase compaction due to heavy traffic, formation of plough pan.
Reduced compaction due to reduced traffic.
Soil biological health Lower due to frequent disturbance.
More diverse and healthy biological properties and populations.
Water infiltration and soil organic matter
Lower after soil pores are clogged. Reduced soil organic matter.
More water infiltration and more soil organic matter build-up in the surface layers.
Issues Conventional tillage Zero tillage
Weeds Controls weeds and also causes more weed seeds to germinate.
Weeds are a problem especially in the early stages of adoption, but problems are reduced with time.
Soil temperature More variable. Moderated.
Diesel use and
costs
High and high costs operations. Much reduced and lowest costs operations.
Yield Can be lower where planting delayed.
Yield is same or higher if planting done more timely.
Continue….
Table 1: Extent of no-tillage adoption world wide.
FAO 2009* includes area in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal in South Asia
EFFECTS OF ZERO TILLAGE
Reduction in machine use
Due to lesser use of tractor during the cultivation process
because field is tilled only once at the sowing.
Field is not ploughed and planked again and again.
Saving irrigation
The zero tillage allows saving of water to the extent of 25-
30% in the time and quantity of first irrigation.
Irrigation
depth(cm)
Time in seconds actually taken to irrigate 42 m2 plot with a stream of 9 lps discharge Irrigation water
saving (%)
Conventional tillage Zero tillage
3 224 156 30.36
5 352 252 28.41
7 477 349 26.83
9 575 431 25.04
Singh et al. (2002)
Table 4: Water saving in first irrigation under zero tillage over conventional method of wheat under heavy soil of South Bihar
Weed population
Less weed problem due to less soil disturbance helping in
keeping the weed seeds at a depth from where it could not
germinate.
Germination of Phalaris minor reduces to the extent of
30-40%.
Site Sowing technique
Population of Phalaris minor (no./m2) 35 DAS
1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01
1
Zero tillage 590 208 70
Conventional tillage 935 315 124
2
Zero tillage 684 285 135
Conventional tillage 920 408 170
3
Zero tillage 418 345 136
Conventional tillage 632 560 210
Singh et al. (2002)
Table 5: Effect of sowing techniques on density of Phalaris minor in wheat at farmer’s fields
Hissar
Table 6: Effect of crop establishment methods in rice and wheat on population and dry matter of weeds in wheat
Tillage method Weed population ( no. m-2)Dry matter of weeds
(g m-2)Chenopodium
albumMedicago
hispidaTotal
2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 2004-05
Conventional 4.2 2.7 5.0 7.0
Zero 3.5 2.1 4.0 5.5
CD (P=0.05) 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.7
Mishra & Singh, 2007Jabalpur
Control of erosion Improved aggregation and high proportion of water-stable aggregates.
High soil organic matter content and high biotic activity of soil fauna.
Soil detachability is also reduced by a high proportion of roots
concentrated in the top soil horizons.
Reduced rill erosion due to decrease in runoff rate, amount and
velocity.
Improved soil health
Retention of crop residues helps in improving soil organic matter, soil
structure and microbial population.
The upper soil surface comparatively soft, more moisture content (up
to 14%).
Insect pests
Retention of residues provide a food source to beneficial insect,
earthworms and predators.
Provide a widest way to tackle pest problems.
Reduce pollution
Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by avoiding burning of
straw.
Reduced consumption of diesel by tractors during field
preparation produce less CO2.
Higher grain yield
The number of days the crop gets from sowing to
harvesting, contributes to higher grain yield.
Efficient use of inputs, improvement in soil
properties, better rate and extent of germination
and better growth from seedling to maturity stage.
Table 7: Grain yield of different crops (kg ha-1) under different tillage practices
Treatment Rice Wheat Mustard
Conventional tillage (residue removal)
3166 2257 512
Zero tillage (residue retention and no-till for rabi crop)
4371 3379 775
Minimum tillage (residue incorporation)
4176 2761 625
CD(P=0.05) 632 493 220
Umiam Ghosh et al. (2010)
TreatmentGrain yield
(q ha-1)Straw yield
(q ha -1)1,000-grain weight (g)
Grains/spike Spikes/ m2
Zero tillage 46.2 74.1 45.9 55 385
Conventional tillage 40.1 63.7 43.9 49 355
CD (0.05) 1.9 5.1 1.1 4 13
Tripathi and Chauhan (2001)
Table 8: Effect of tillage on wheat yield and its attributing characters
Karnal
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2K
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Year
Grain
Yie
ld (
kg
ha
-1)
Zero-Tillage Conventional Tillage
Grain yield of wheat after 11 years of zero-tillage at farmers field in Haryana (Average of 6 sites)
Malik et al. (2008)
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
5500
6000
6500
7000ZT-ZT CT-ZT CT-CT
Long-term yield trends of wheat under no-till in pearl millet-wheat rotation
Malik et al (2008)
Yie
ld (
t/h
a)
Hisar
Table 9: Effect of tillage methods on bulk density of soil at harvest of maize
Tillage method
Bulk density (Mg m-3)
0-15 cm 15-30 cm
2002 2003 2002 2003
Zero 1.209 1.216 1.238 1.248
Conventional 1.178 1.179 1.214 1.193
Raised seed-bed 1.172 1.156 1.198 1.181
CD (P=0.05) 0.016 0.036 0.021 0.039
Chopra and Angiras, 2008Palampur
Soil temperature
Increase and decrease in temperature from 1 to 3oC in upper 0-5 cm
soil layer.
Crop residue lowers the maximum soil temperature and improves
germination, seedling establishment and crop growth and yields.
Soil moisture
High soil moisture content due to both improved soil structure and
the decrease in evaporation due to the crop residue mulch.
Tillage methodMaximum soil
temp. oC Soil moisture (%) Emergence (%)
Conventional tillage, ridges 43 8.3 83.2
Conventional tillage, flat 41 11.2 89.4
Strip tillage 39 15.8 96.7
Zero tillage 36 14.4 97.8
Rattan Lal (1986)
Table 10: Effect of tillage methods on seedling emergence, soil temperature and soil moisture regimes in cowpea
Ohio
Tillage method
Moisture content (%)
0-5 cm 5-10 cm
2002 2003 2002 2003
Zero 23.50 25.00 26.20 28.77
Conventional 21.77 22.40 23.63 24.23
Raised seed bed
20.30 21.23 22.13 23.97
CD (P=0.05) 2.23 2.72 2.03 3.82
Chopra and Angiras (2008)
Table 11: Effect of tillage method on moisture content in maize
Palampur
Carbon dioxide evolution:
Reduce the oxidative loss of soil C and result in the build up of C and
organic matter in soil.
Organic matter
Decomposition of plant residue of previous crop improves organic
matter.
Surface layer is usually wetter, cooler, less oxidative causes the organic
matter content to increase.
Soil pH
Increased acidification is found due to nitrification of NH4+ from acid-
forming N fertilizer applied to the soil surface.
The acidification problem occurs in a thin layer at the soil surface so
neutralization is easier.
Soil Chemical Properties
TreatmentOrganic Carbon
(%)SMBC
(μg/g soil)Earthworm population
Conventional tillage
1.47 91.3 60,000
Zero tillage 2.23 128.5 1,60,000
Minimum tillage 2.17 121.3 1,00,000
CD (P=0.05) 0.78 12.1
Ghosh et al. (2010)
Table 12: Organic carbon and biological activity under different tillage practices
Umiam
Nutrient distribution in soil Crop residues influence nutrient availability through altering
temperature and moisture regimes.
The surface layer is characterized by higher organic matter and organic
N, which can be a valuable N source.
Fertilizers are more responsive to crop under no tillage.
Lower quantities of NO3- in the upper soil layer is due to more
leaching of nitrates.
Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
Zero-till soils had a significantly higher level of CEC (26%) than
conventional tillage.
Fertilizer NPK (kg ha-1)
Tillage practices
Zero tillage Conventional tillage
120:60:40 40.6 36.0
150:75:50 48.5 41.0
180:90:60 49.6 43.3
Tripathi and Chauhan (2001)
Table 13: Response of NPK level on productivity of wheat (q ha-1) under zero and conventional tillage conditions
Karnal
Soil Biological Properties
Soil flora and fauna
Soil flora and fauna increases in no-till system because of
favourable conditions.
Moisture regime, temperature moderation, good soil
structure, high organic matter favours the high biotic activity.
Earthworms form burrows which can enhance gas
exchange and improve water infiltration rates 2-10 times
in soils.
Stabilizes soil aggregates, improves soil structure and
limits erosion.
Increase in the extent and density of plant roots.
Breakdown of organic matter.
Earthworms Favour No-till Farming
Effect of Zero Tillage on Plant Growth
Germination
Proper seeding depth and proper placement of fertilizer below
the seed gave an advantage to germination.
Moreover, no-till soil contains high moisture, high organic
matter and soft soil, which gave favorable conditions to
germination.Zero till Rice-wheat system Zero till Maize-wheat system
Crop growth
Better crop growth due to early sowing, uniform crop stand and
higher fertilizer use efficiency due to placement below seed while
drilling.
Root growth
More root growth in the surface layer immediately beneath the
residue mulch.
Some roots also grow in deeper horizons facilitated by worm
holes and biochannels.
Ensure that standing stubble is not longer than 15 cm.
Calibrate the zero till machine before planting so that proper
amount of seed and fertilizer is placed in the field.
Seed depth should be kept at 5 cm.
Use of granular fertilizers so that pipes of the ZT machine are
not choked.
Apply first irrigation after 15-20 days of sowing.
Use flat fan nozzle for spraying herbicides.
Important consideration for adoption of Zero Tillage
Double Zero-till system must be developed.
Suitable cultivars for Zero-tillage.
Technology for management of loose crop residues to avoid
burning.
Development of suitable machinery for residue
management.
Development of suitable package of practices for new tillage
technologies.
Research and Extension systems must work hand in hand.
What is needed?
Integrated approach for identification and development of
different crop varieties, responsive to zero tillage.
Refinement or development of suitable multi-purpose farm
machines, suitable for different size categories of farmers,
located under varying production environments.
Effect of zero tillage on soil health in long run–physical,
chemical and biological structure of soil, responsive to crop
productivity.
Future Prospects
Zero tillage can serve as corrective measures for ill-effects of modern agriculture which include intensive tillage.
Provides an opportunity to grow more food at less cost and thus improve farmers livelihoods.
Food security by maintaining the natural resource base. Overcoming age old prejudices about “more tillage giving better
crops”. The suitable policies are needed in order to further facilitate
promotion of zero tillage technology by encouraging private sector cooperation and educating farmers about the use of this technology.
The participatory research at farmers’ field could play important role in technology improvements and dissemination.
CONCLUSIONS
Thank You
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