TILLAGE

Rebuilding soil health year after year

Tilling the soil is actually a relatively new practice in the long history of cultivating crops, but no-till, reduced-till and vertical tillage systems are making a comeback. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Census data estimates that approximately 70 percent of U.S. soybean acres use some form of conservation tillage.

Growing

Having weed control and fertilizer programs in place are critical for farmers using conservation tillage. This includes clearing fields of weeds ahead of planting by carefully applying herbicides to kill weeds that may be emerging.

Harvest

Leaving stubble in the field after harvest to breakdown and become part of the soil is an important conservation tillage practice.

Conservation tillage impacts fields, farms and more

Conservation tillage practices include no-till and reduced-till systems. By not disturbing the soil, farmers allow organic material to decompose into the soil.

No-till

No-till farming leaves organic material on the surface of a field after harvest with seeds planted directly into soil with that organic matter.

Reduced till

Reduced-till farming uses shallow, less intense tilling to prepare fields for planting to reduce soil disruption.

Vertical tillage

Vertical tillage mixes and breaks up soil without disturbing the top layer of soil and residue.

Less disruption, more benefits

By disturbing the soil as little as possible, farmers, crops and the environment all benefit.

Improving soil health

Conservation tillage systems increase the organic matter in the soil, improving soil composition. Soil with high organic matter also retains more water, which is important during dry years.

Reducing input costs

Healthier soil doesn’t need as much fertilizer because growing plants can access nutrients directly from the soil. Because of this and less time with equipment in the field to work the soil, farmers save time and money.

Protecting the environment

No-till, reduced-till and vertical tillage fields also have less soil erosion and soil run-off. Since farmers aren’t in the fields with equipment as much there are fewer emissions and less soil compaction. When planted in compacted soil, plant roots have a harder time accessing water and nutrients.

Explore other regenerative soybean production practices

Carbon capture and sequestration

With the right systems and practices in place, farmers can enhance soil quality and retention of carbon making it stable there for years.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CARBON

Water quality management

Water is critical regardless of the crop. Implementing environmental practices to keep water safe for using in the community, watering animals and irrigating fields is important to soybean farmers.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER QUALITY

Nitrogen fixing

While all plants need nitrogen to grow, soybeans can fix nitrogen with the aid of nitrogen fixing soil bacteria. Through a symbiotic relationship with soil microbes, soybeans convert nitrogen to a usable form.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NITROGEN AND SOYBEANS

Greenhouse gas emissions

Conservation tillage systems help soybean farmers reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve air quality by reducing trips across the field.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Crop residue

Leaving crop residue in the field after harvest contributes to soil health and protects fields from erosion. Over several months, the stubble breaks down and turns into organic matter. With microorganisms nutrients are returned back to the soil.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CROP RESIDUE AND SOIL HEALTH