The document discusses zero tillage as a resource-saving agricultural technology that enhances soil health and reduces costs in farming practices compared to conventional tillage. It highlights the benefits of zero tillage, such as improved water retention, lower diesel use, reduced erosion, and better pest management, leading to higher grain yields. The author emphasizes the need for suitable technologies and policies to support the adoption of zero tillage practices for sustainable agricultural productivity.

2. Zero tillage : A profitable resource saving
technology in Indian and Global context
Speaker : Sunil Kumar
(A-2010-30-21)

3. INTRODUCTION

8. Issues Conventional tillage Zero tillage
Erosion Maximum Less
Soil physical health Increase compaction due to Reduced compaction due to
heavy traffic, formation of reduced traffic.
compaction
plough pan.
Soil biological health Lower due to frequent More diverse and healthy
disturbance. biological properties and
populations.
Water infiltration and Lower after soil pores are More water infiltration and more
soil organic matter clogged. Reduced soil soil organic matter build-up in the
organic matter. surface layers.

9. Continue….
Issues Conventional tillage Zero tillage
Weeds Controls weeds and also causes Weeds are a problem especially in
more weed seeds to germinate. the early stages of adoption, but
problems are reduced with time.
Soil temperature More variable. Moderated.
Diesel use and High and high costs operations. Much reduced and lowest costs
operations.
costs
Yield Can be lower where planting Yield is same or higher if planting
delayed. done more timely.

10. Table 1: Extent of no-tillage adoption world wide.
FAO 2009
* includes area in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal in South Asia

12. EFFECTS OF ZERO
TILLAGE

18.  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.

19. Table 4: Water saving in first irrigation under zero tillage over
conventional method of wheat under heavy soil of South Bihar
Time in seconds actually taken to irrigate 42
m2 plot with a stream of
Irrigation 9 lps discharge Irrigation water
depth(cm) 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)

20. 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%.

21. Table 5: Effect of sowing techniques on density of Phalaris minor in
wheat at farmer’s fields
Population of Phalaris minor (no./m2) 35 DAS
Site Sowing technique
1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01
Zero tillage 590 208 70
1
Conventional tillage 935 315 124
Zero tillage 684 285 135
2 Conventional tillage 920 408 170
Zero tillage 418 345 136
3 Conventional tillage 632 560 210
Hissar Singh et al. (2002)

22. 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
Chenopodium Medicago Total of weeds
album hispida (g m-2)
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
Jabalpur Mishra & Singh, 2007

23. 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.

24. 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.

25.  Reduce pollution
 Reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by avoiding burning of
straw.
 Reduced consumption of diesel by tractors during field
preparation produce less CO2.

26. 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.

27. Table 7: Grain yield of different crops (kg ha-1) under different tillage
practices
Treatment Rice Wheat Mustard
Conventional tillage (residue
3166 2257 512
removal)
Zero tillage (residue retention
4371 3379 775
and no-till for rabi crop)
Minimum tillage (residue
4176 2761 625
incorporation)
CD(P=0.05) 632 493 220
Umiam Ghosh et al. (2010)

28. Table 8: Effect of tillage on wheat yield and its attributing characters
Grain yield Straw yield 1,000-grain
Treatment Grains/spike Spikes/ m2
(q ha-1) (q ha -1) weight (g)
Zero tillage 46.2 74.1 45.9 55 385
Conventional
40.1 63.7 43.9 49 355
tillage
CD (0.05) 1.9 5.1 1.1 4 13
Karnal Tripathi and Chauhan
(2001)

29. Grain yield of wheat after 11 years of zero-tillage at farmers field in
Haryana (Average of 6 sites)
6000
Zero-Tillage Conventional Tillage
5000
4000
Grain Yield (kg ha -1)
3000
2000
1000
0
1997- 1998- 1999- 2000- 2001- 2002- 2003- 2004- 2005- 2006- 2007-
98 99 2K 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Ye ar
Malik et al. (2008)

30. Long-term yield trends of wheat under no-till in
pearl millet-wheat rotation
7000
ZT-ZT CT-ZT CT-CT
6500
6000
5500
Yield (t/ha)
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
Hisar Malik et al (2008)

32. 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
Palampur Chopra and Angiras, 2008

33.  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.

34. Table 10: Effect of tillage methods on seedling emergence, soil
temperature and soil moisture regimes in cowpea
Maximum soil
Tillage method Soil moisture (%) Emergence (%)
temp. oC
Conventional tillage,
43 8.3 83.2
ridges
Conventional tillage,
flat 41 11.2 89.4
Strip tillage 39 15.8 96.7
Zero tillage 36 14.4 97.8
Ohio Rattan Lal (1986)

35. Table 11: Effect of tillage method on moisture content in maize
Moisture content (%)
0-5 cm 5-10 cm
Tillage method
2002 2003 2002 2003
Zero 23.50 25.00 26.20 28.77
Conventional 21.77 22.40 23.63 24.23
Raised seed
20.30 21.23 22.13 23.97
bed
CD (P=0.05) 2.23 2.72 2.03 3.82
Palampur Chopra and Angiras (2008)

36. Carbon dioxide evolution:
Reduce the oxidative loss of soil C and result in the build up of C and
organic matter in soil.

37.  Soil Chemical Properties
 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.

38. Table 12: Organic carbon and biological activity under
different tillage practices
Organic Carbon SMBC Earthworm
Treatment
(%) (μg/g soil) population
Conventional
1.47 91.3 60,000
tillage
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
Umiam Ghosh et al. (2010)

39.  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.

40. Table 13: Response of NPK level on productivity of wheat (q ha-1)
under zero and conventional tillage conditions
Tillage practices
Fertilizer NPK (kg ha-1)
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
Karnal Tripathi and Chauhan (2001)

41.  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.

42.  Earthworms Favour No-till Farming
 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.

43. Effect of Zero Tillage on
Plant Growth

44.  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

45.  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.

46. Important consideration for adoption of Zero Tillage
 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.

47. What is needed?
 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.

48. Future Prospects
 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.

49. CONCLUSIONS
 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.

50. Thank You