Same Tillage Method Year After Year
Can Cause Soil Problems

byJames W. Bauder
MSU Extension Soil and Water Quality Specialist

10/11/95 BOZEMAN - Using the same tillage method year after year creates soil problems that can seriously reduce crop yields, says a Montana State University soil scientist.

Continuous use of no-till systems over many years can result in even greater adverse effects upon the soil than rigid tillage systems, says James Bauder, Extension soil scientist.

"With conventional tillage, you get a reduction in organic matter in the soil. No-till increases the organic matter, but there's more potential for disease, pest and soil fertility problems," says Bauder.

These problems can be even more severe when the same crop variety or rotation is used year after year, he says. The key is to consider and integrate diversity and flexibility into the system, he says.

"With continuous use of any system, you run the potential for problems down the road. If you're using no-till, you should break the pattern with occasional tillage," says Bauder.

Bauder cited a study in which single practices--moldboard plowing, chisel plowing, disking and no-till planting--were continued for 10 consecutive years on clay-loam soils.

The least severe soil problems resulted from chisel plowing in the fall to a depth of eight to 10 inches, combined with cultivation in the spring to smooth the soil surface. Chisel plowing resulted in the least problem with soil firmness, the best porosity and the driest soil in the top eight to 10 inches. Although the rough surface left by chisel plowing traps snow and moisture from rainfall, it also tends to dry out faster in the spring.

The other tillage systems -- spring disking and moldboard plowing to a depth of seven to 10 inches in the fall, plus cultivation in the spring -- both caused more problems then chisel plowing, but less than continuous no-tillage.

With no-till, there's an increased potential for soil compaction. Harvesting provides a substantial load on the soil, which is not always dissipated by freezing and thawing, wetting and drying. Occasional tillage will help reduce those shallow compaction zones near the soil surface, says Bauder.

"No-till is not very forgiving," says Bauder. In years with good moisture, there's higher potential for disease problems. Producers need to plan ahead and be very management oriented.

Producers who use no-till should use disease resistant crop varieties and pay attention to the soil's nutrient needs, he says.

"With other types of tillage methods, you can work the soil and plant when the time is right. Later if needed, you can fertilize. But with no-till, there's only a limited opportunity to provide nutrients, and that's during planting," he says.

"No-till does limit your flexibility," he adds, but it has plenty of advantages too.

Though no-till requires special equipment, less tillage means lower fuel costs. There's also a reduced potential for erosion and an increase in the efficiency of moisture storage.

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