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