Adapting Tillage to the Slope Direction
Technique characterization
Technique description
Adapting tillage to the slope direction while considering the erosive system.
In the case of plots with sufficient slope to generate erosion (Lauragais hills…), tillage perpendicular or oblique to the slope direction is preferred over tillage in the slope direction. In regions of plains (Pays de Caux...) where erosion is caused by runoff generated by plots located upstream in the watershed, the objective will be to promote the concentration of runoff as far downstream as possible in the watershed.
Adapting tillage to the slope direction can then be difficult to implement because multiple slopes are often encountered on the same plot. Redefining plot boundaries may then be necessary.
Adapting tillage to the slope direction can be implemented at the plot scale, in the case of plots with sufficient slope to generate erosion, or at the watershed scale, when erosion is caused by runoff accumulated on upstream plots.
Application of the technique to...
All crops: Easily generalizable
Adapting tillage to the slope direction is particularly justified in the case of widely spaced crops (corn, beet…) which provide preferential runoff formation corridors.
All soil types: Generalization sometimes difficult
Avoiding tillage parallel to the slope direction is particularly justified on erosion-sensitive soils (loamy soils…). Adapting tillage to the slope direction can be more or less easy to implement depending on the relief (steep slopes imposing the tillage direction), plot shape...
All climatic contexts: Easily generalizable
Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on water quality: Increasing
- Decrease in runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus
- Decrease in pesticide use
Adapting tillage to the slope direction helps limit the transfer of soil particles, phytosanitary residues, and phosphorus by runoff water.
"Agronomic" criteria
Water stress: Decreasing
Adapting tillage to the slope direction helps promote infiltration, which improves water availability.
"Social" criteria
Working time:
Adapting tillage to the slope direction can lead to a decrease in field operation flow rates, if the slope direction coincides with the longest length of the plot.
For more information
- Sheet No. 10 - Plot organization for better hydraulic functioning of the watershed
- -Coufourier N., Lecomte V., Le Goff A. (CA 76), Pivain Y. (CA 27), Lheriteau M., Ouvry J.F. (AREAS), AREAS, Technical brochure
