Development, Evaluation And Demonstration Of A No-Till Technique With A Modified Roller Crimper In Organic And Conventionnally-Managed Systems In Eastern Canada

Summary

According to many, soil tilling is one of the practices contributing the most to soil degradation. In conventional systems, farmers can practice no-till with the use of chemical herbicides to kill cover crops prior to the next planting whereas their use is forbidden in organic systems. Alternatives to herbicides are available to farmers including the utilization of a roller crimper, a farm equipment developed by the Rodale Institute. The roller crimper is a water-fill drum with chevron-patterned blades attached to the front of a tractor. This technique allows farmers planting soybean into a roller-crimped rye cover crop. A critical step with this technique is the timing of cover crop termination. The roller crimper is used when rye has reached flowering stage. Under Southern Quebec climatic conditions, this brings us to mid-June which is too late for soybean planting. Inspired by other techniques developed in the United States, a nearby farmer decided to conceive a new model of roller crimper that would adapt the technique to the climatic and cultural conditions of Eastern Canada farms. The expected results are the development of approaches without herbicide use, promote organic soybean production and reduce soil erosion and improve their health in Eastern Canada.