Performing Deep Soil Work Without Tillage
Presentation
Characterization of the technique
Description of the technique :
| Jean-Roger Estrade | AgroParisTech | jean.roger-estrade(at)grignon.inra.fr | Paris (75) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rémy Ballot | INRA | remy.ballot(at)grignon.inra.fr | Grignon (78) |
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Deep soil tillage without inversion (pseudo-ploughing, loosening…) aims to restore the soil macroporosity when it is degraded at depth and cannot be restored solely by biological activity (root exploration, earthworms…) or climate (freeze/thaw or wetting/drying cycles). The type of tool to use depends on the location of the compacted zone: heavy cultivator to fracture a plough pan or loosening with a tine tool (chisel…) to correct compaction located less than 20 cm deep (wheel tracks). A prior diagnosis (crop profile) allows verifying the need for deep tillage and the type of work to be done. Deep tillage is preferably done in summer (after crops of autumn) to take advantage of dry soil) or in spring (before summer crops) to correct any compaction caused by spreading organic effluents.
Implementation period During the intercrop period
Spatial scale of implementation Plot
Application of the technique to...
All crops : Sometimes difficult to generalize
Depending on their planting and harvesting periods, crops do not all offer the same flexibility for performing deep soil tillage. Deep tillage in case of degraded structure is particularly justified for species with a taproot system or for spring/summer species whose cycle duration allows less catch-up.
All soil types : Sometimes difficult to generalize
In loamy / clay soils, intervention windows for deep tillage may be limited. In clayey soils, structural activity due to freeze/thaw or wetting/drying cycles can more easily replace deep tillage.
All climatic contexts : Sometimes difficult to generalize
Deep tillage must be done under intermediate drying conditions (insufficient fragmentation in too wet soil or fine soil smearing and high traction power needs if soil too dry). Available intervention windows depend directly on the climatic context.
Effects on the sustainability of the cropping system
"Environmental" criteria
Effect on fossil resource consumption : Variable
fossil energy consumption : VARIABLE
phosphorus consumption : VARIABLE
Other : No effect (neutral)
Compared to ploughing, deep soil tillage reduces fuel consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to shallow tillage or direct seeding of crops, it increases fuel consumption.
"Agronomic" criteria
Productivity : Variable
Deep tillage restores porosity by eliminating compacted zones but there is no direct relationship between structuring and yield.
Soil fertility : Increasing
If deep soil tillage restores porosity by eliminating compacted zones, it promotes soil aeration and processes involving aerobic organisms (mineralization, symbiotic nitrogen fixation…).
Water stress : Decreasing
If deep soil tillage restores porosity by eliminating compacted zones, it promotes root exploration of the soil and thus better use of available water.
Functional Biodiversity : Increasing
If deep soil tillage restores porosity by eliminating compacted zones, it promotes soil aeration and thus soil microorganisms and macrofauna.
Other agronomic criteria : Variable
Weed risk: variable
Compared to ploughing, deep tillage without inversion as well as shallow tillage do not bury weeds seeds.
"Economic" criteria
Operational costs : No effect (neutral)
Mechanization costs : Variable
Compared to ploughing, deep soil tillage reduces fuel consumption. Compared to shallow tillage or direct seeding, it increases fuel consumption. Performing deep soil tillage without inversion may also require acquiring specific equipment.
Margin : Variable
The impact of deep soil tillage without inversion on profitability depends on the initial soil condition and crop sensitivity to compaction: reduced profitability on little or non-degraded soils and crops less sensitive to compaction to improved profitability on heavily degraded soils and sensitive crops.
"Social" criteria
Working time : Variable
Deep soil tillage reduces workload compared to ploughing and increases it compared to shallow tillage.
Peak period : Variable
Deep soil tillage reduces workload compared to ploughing and increases it compared to shallow tillage.
Observation time : Increasing
Implementation of deep soil tillage should preferably be preceded by a diagnosis: crop profile…
For more information
Technical brochure, 2008
