Strategic tillage in no-till farming systems in Australia's northern grains-growing regions: I. drivers and implementation

Article

Dang, Y. P., Seymour, N. P., Walker, S. R., Bell, M. J. and Freebairn, D. M.. 2015. "Strategic tillage in no-till farming systems in Australia's northern grains-growing regions: I. drivers and implementation." Soil and Tillage Research. 152, pp. 104-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.03.009
Article Title

Strategic tillage in no-till farming systems in Australia's northern grains-growing regions: I. drivers and implementation

ERA Journal ID5270
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsDang, Y. P. (Author), Seymour, N. P. (Author), Walker, S. R. (Author), Bell, M. J. (Author) and Freebairn, D. M. (Author)
Journal TitleSoil and Tillage Research
Journal Citation152, pp. 104-114
Number of Pages11
Year2015
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationNetherlands
ISSN0167-1987
0933-3630
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.03.009
Web Address (URL)http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198715000665
Abstract

Development of no-tillage (NT) farming has revolutionized agricultural systems by allowing growers to manage greater areas of land with reduced energy, labour and machinery inputs to control erosion, improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emission. However, NT farming systems have resulted in a build-up of herbicide-resistant weeds, an increased incidence of soil- and stubble-borne diseases and enrichment of nutrients and carbon near the soil surface. Consequently, there is an increased interest in the use of an occasional tillage (termed strategic tillage, ST) to address such emerging constraints in otherwise-NT farming systems. Decisions around ST uses will depend upon the specific issues present on the individual field or farm, and profitability and effectiveness of available options for management. This paper explores some of the issues with the implementation of ST in NT farming systems. The impact of contrasting soil properties, the timing of the tillage and the prevailing climate exert a strong influence on the success of ST. Decisions around timing of tillage are very complex and depend on the interactions between soil water content and the purpose for which the ST is intended. The soil needs to be at the right water content before executing any tillage, while the objective of the ST will influence the frequency and type of tillage implement used. The use of ST in long-term NT systems will depend on factors associated with system costs and profitability, soil health and environmental impacts. For many farmers maintaining farm profitability is a priority, so economic considerations are likely to be a primary factor dictating adoption. However, impacts on soil health and environment, especially the risk of erosion and the loss of soil carbon, will also influence a grower's choice to adopt ST, as will the impact on soil moisture reserves in rainfed cropping systems.

KeywordsHerbicide-resistant weeds; Nutrient stratification; Soil- and stubble-borne diseases; Strategic tillage implements; Strategic tillage optimum time; Strategic tillage purpose; Agricultural system; Cropping systems; Economic considerations; Herbicide resistant weeds; Soil water content; Strategic tillage optimum time; Strategic tillage purpose; Tillage implement; ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; APPLIED ECOLOGY/POLLUTION; Environmental Exploitation; Agriculture and soil practices; Environmental Economics; Regional;
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020410699. Soil sciences not elsewhere classified
300202. Agricultural land management
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Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Queensland
Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Queensland
RPS Australia Asia Pacific, Australia
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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