Comparison of no-tillage and conventional plough tillage: a synthesis | Comparaison du semis direct et du labour: une synthese
2007
Sturny, W.G. | Chervet, A. | Maurer-Troxler, C. | Ramseier, L.,Office de l'agriculture du canton de Berne, Ruetti, Zollikofen (Switzerland) | Mueller, M. | Schaffluetzel, R. | Richner, W. | Streit, B. | Weisskopf, P. | Zihlmann, U.
No-tillage and conventional plough tillage have been compared since 1994 in a crop rotation without fallow period and with mineral fertilizer only, in the long-term field trial "Oberacker"at the Inforama Ruetti in Zollikofen (Switzerland) on a slightly humic sandy loam deep and nutrient-rich soil. Results obtained so far show continuous no-tillage of long duration to be an alternative to traditional plough tillage: no-tillage is ready for agronomical practice, leads to a biologically active soil of stable structure and thus of high load capacity, reduces risk of soil erosion, number of vehicle crossings and consumption of fuel and presents an overall more favourable life cycle assessment. After a seven-year conversion period, slightly higher plant yields of comparable quality were obtained in no-tillage, due to a better soil water preservation and continual supply to plant roots, as well as to a higher N-efficiency. Both cropping systems only received about 60% of the standard amounts of N-fertilizer. Both systems shall be tested further and optimised for environmental sustainability and energy consumption by introducing more legume crops, ammonium-based N-fertilizer, and by reducing glyphosate application in no-tillage and tillage intensity in conventional plough tillage.
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