Soil health and organic farming - Practical conservation tillage

{Tool} Soil health and organic farming - Practical conservation tillage. Creator(s): Schonbeck, Mark; Jerkins, Diana and Ory, Johanna. Issuing Organisation(s): OFRF - Organic Farming Research Foundation. (2017)

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Document available online at: https://ofrf.org/soil-health-and-organic-farming-reports/

Summary in the original language of the document

In this guide you will learn about different no-till approaches and challenges of organic conservation tillage, get detailed information from 4 case studies as well as resources on conservation tillage in organic systems and more on current on conservation tillage.

EPrint Type:	Practice tool
Teaser:	Explore no-till approaches, challenges and case studies in organic systems.
What problem does the tool address?:	Tilled soil is more vulnerable to erosion by wind and rain, and fragile soils cannot tolerate annual plowing without undergoing severe degradation. In addition to physically pulverizing the soil and exposing it to the elements, excessive tillage accelerates oxidation of soil organic matter and carbon dioxide emissions, disrupts important components of the soil food web, and can diminish the soil’s capacity to hold water and nutrients. Even where favorable topography and climate minimize the loss of soil due to erosion, overtilled soils become less fertile, less resilient, and more prone to compaction as a result of the loss of organic matter. During the first half of the 20th century, growing concern with soil degradation gave rise to the soil conservation and organic farming movements to address soil erosion and declining soil health, respectively.
What solution does the tool offer?:	Organic farmers recognize healthy, living soil as the foundation of successful farming, and many seek practical means to reduce tillage in order to protect the soil organic matter, soil life, and improved tilth built up through green manures, compost applications and other organic practices. Without the use of herbicides, continuous no-till management is not practical for organic production of vegetables, grains, and other annual crops. A more realistic goal is to reduce the frequency and intensity of tillage in organic annual crop rotations.
Country:	United States of America
Type of Practice Tool:	Leaflets & guidelines
Keywords:	climate change, climate change adaptation, climate-smart agriculture, resilience, conservation tillage
Agrovoc keywords:	Language Value URI English climate change http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1666 English climate change adaptation http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1374567058134 English climate-smart agriculture http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1361789093890 English resilience http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1374480530924 English conservation tillage http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33445
Subjects:	Crop husbandry > Soil tillage Environmental aspects > Air and water emissions Soil
Research affiliation:	European Union > Horizon Europe > OrganicClimateNET > selected tools European Union > Organic Farm Knowledge USA > Other organizations USA
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number:	101136880
Related Links:	https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/55585, https://organicclimatenet.eu/, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/30996, https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/31128
Project ID:	OFK
Deposited By:	Rüger, Madelaine Lea
ID Code:	55585
Deposited On:	05 May 2025 07:31
Last Modified:	05 May 2025 07:31
Document Language:	English
Status:	Published

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