Research: No-till leads to higher yields

The latest research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln shows that no-till techniques can provide farmers with more profitable yields.

The research, completed on the University of Nebraska Rogers Memorial Farm, about 10 miles east of Lincoln showed that over time, no-till techniques help build soil structure, resulting in higher yields and therefore more revenues.

Conventional farming techniques, which include tilling and plowing land before planting, break up the natural soil structure, which provides a stronger anchor for row crop root systems.

Destroying the soil structure also eliminates farmland habitat of farm-friendly earthworms, an article published in the September 2004 issue of No-Till Farmer magazine stated.

Tunnels left by earthworms help keep water runoff to a minimum, which helps preserve farmland top soil, the article stated. The tunnels also help keep the ground from becoming too compact, especially with the use of heavy farming equipment.

There are several other advantages to no-till, said Dodge County extension educator Dave Varner.

Farmers don't spend as much time in the fields with no-till, Varner said. They don't use as much fuel as with conventional farming because they make fewer passes through their fields.

Many producers find that when they go out in the fields they simply plant, spray and harvest rather than spending more time in the fields with a variety of other operations, he said.

Spending less time in each field also allows farmers to effectively work more acres.

“And once a producer gets the system in place, they'll experience reduced weed pressure,” he continued. “With a till system, they bring new weed seeds to the surface and allow them to germinate. There's a misconception that no-till promotes more weeds. The truth is if a producer has a good herbicide in place, weeds will not be an issue.”

Over time, farms where no-till is used will experience an “increase in the organic matter content of the soil, which is a key component to soil's richness, releasing more nutrients,” he said.

“Also, you have improved soil structure, which leads to better water infiltration,” he said. “Producers have better root growth. With tilling, producers run their equipment up and down the field, compacting the soil. No-till creates better ground for crops to grow. There's not as much resistance.”

But the biggest benefit with no-till is a reduction in soil erosion, Varner said.

“When producers go over and disk soil, they're pulverizing the soil to where it's like a powder. Then when there's a rain, that water runs off and takes all that powdered soil into creeks, down to the Missouri River and eventually down to New Orleans.

“What you're losing is the most valuable source on earth to grow our food supply,” he said. “It takes several years to replace one inch of topsoil. That only happens when a field stops being tilled. We've probably lost about 12 inches of topsoil over the past 100 years.”

Each winter the stalks and residue left on fields provide another benefit, he said. They catch the snow, allowing for more moisture to develop as the snow melts.

Along with that, the stalks and residue provide a safe haven for the soil because they prevent soil from being blown away.

“There have been times in the winters when the wind blowing across Highway 30 kicks a steady stream of dust across the highway, making it almost impossible to see. Water erosion is a bigger issue, but we also have to contend with wind erosion.”

The extension service has been promoting no-till since the early '80s, but there are still many farmers who refuse to convert to using the system, Varner said.

“There are several reasons all farmers don't go to no-till,” he said. “One, I think people are reluctant to change. Tilling is the way they've always farmed. It's how their dad and how their granddad farmed. Change is very difficult.

“There's also landlord pressure. A lot of producers who rent land are not allowed to use no-till. Landlords like to see clean fields that they think look good. That might not be the way a no-till field looks like. Producers are looking for yield. They don't necessarily care if it's the nicest looking field out there.”

But Varner said that every year more farmers convert to the no-till system and different factors will drive more farmers to it.

“I think we'll see a time when a larger percentage of producers are using no-till,” he said. “This year is a great example with fuel prices as a high as they are. A lot of producers are looking to learn so they can reduce their fuel costs.”

Varner said he thinks the next factor to drive more farmers into no-till will be the cost of water for irrigating fields.

“As it begins to cost a lot more to pump water, they will try to find ways to help preserve moisture in their fields. No-till is the perfect solution.”