Potential of No-Till Technology for Environmental Protection
Potential of No-Till Technology for Environmental Protection

Author(s): Anton Blagoev
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Economy, Business Economy / Management, Agriculture, Energy and Environmental Studies
Published by: Университет за национално и световно стопанство (УНСС)
Keywords: No-Till Technology; agricultural practices; environmental impact; agroecological practices; soil erosion
Summary/Abstract: Reducing the negative impact of agricultural practices on the environment is essential. There is a growing need for the use and adoption of environmentally friendly and environmentally sound technologies in agriculture. Encouraging the adoption of agri-environmental practices will increase crop productivity, minimise labour time, improve biological control, reduce erosion, improve soil structure, increase infiltration and water retention properties and achieve environmental sustainability. The wide range of conditions under which the minimum tillage system works successfully worldwide are its economic, social and environmental advantages. No-till technology is often characterised as a means of tilling the soil and growing different crop species with positive environmental externalities. The purpose of this paper is to describe the importance of using the agroecological practice of no-till and its impact on land resources as well as its secondary environmental impacts. A literature review of the author's views related to the definitions of No-till technology is conducted. It is most commonly defined as no-till, minimum tillage or a technology such as planting in soil without prior preparation. The palette of benefits that agroecological practice brings to the soil, the environment, agriculture and farmers is rich, namely: does not disturb soil composition; improves the functions that occur in ecosystems; increases the availability of crop residues. Increased availability of crop residues and cover crops on cropland increases biomass production, with the maximized yield serving to store more C in the soil; improves water conveyance functions, moisture retention, and reduction of surface runoff and erosion, increases heat throughout the soil world; production quantities obtained are comparable to those of intensive tillage; reduces both labor time and the use of fuels and pesticides; minimizes depreciation of the equipment used; reduce investment in purchasing attachments; smaller capacity of the machinery and equipment used; reduce and simplify labour requirements; easy matching with crop rotation and improved nutrient cycling.

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