Consider No-Till This Fall

Soil is obviously a very important part of our lives since it supports the production of our food sources.  A key component to our soil is organic matter.  Organic matter serves as a reservoir of nutrients and water in the soil, aids in reducing compaction and surface crusting, and increases water infiltration into the soil. Unfortunately, it isn’t something that we can quickly build up in our farm ground.  There are different avenues to pursue when trying to build up the organic matter in your soils.  One way to help retain organic matter and slowly build levels back up is through the implementation of no-till.

While I realize that it may not be for everyone, no-till crop production has become a very successful agronomic practice in Kentucky.  No-till systems make it possible to maintain productivity of erodible land while keeping erosion losses at a tolerable level and help us with maintaining organic matter in our soils.

Reducing soil erosion by 75-100% and reducing the loss of organic matter are not the only perks of converting to a no-till production method.  No-till also cuts fuel costs and saves labor and time; three extremely valuable inputs in your operation.  Another key benefit to no-till is the conversation of moisture, increasing moisture retention in your soil by 20-25% due to reduced water runoff and soil evaporation.  No-till is also said to make double-cropping easier, and one of my most favorite benefits of no-till is the reduction in compaction.

I recently heard of one our UK Soils Specialist compare soil and a can of Pringles.  Think about a brand new can of Pringles.  When you first open it up they are stacked all nice and neat, all the way to the top of the can.  If you were to disturb that can, whether it be by shaking it up vigorously or by putting a utensil (ie butter knife) through the middle of the stack of chips, all of those bits and pieces settle at the bottom.  You no longer have a can of Pringles filled all the way to the stop.  When those Pringle chips settle at the bottom, there is no longer any room for air flow or water flow, similar to what happens when you rip through your soil over and over again. 

No-till has its pro’s and con’s, and like I said, I realize that it is not meant to be a part of every operation and there are times where tillage is necessary.  However, the no-till system of row crop production is especially well-adapted to the soils and topography of Kentucky.  No-till production has been most successful on well-drained and moderately well-drained soils in Kentucky.  No-till will work with a wide variety of soil types, but it probably most successful on Crider soil. 

There are several publications available about no-till production.  If you would like more information about no-till, please contact the McLean County Cooperative Extension Service at (270)273-3690.  Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.