Minimum Tillage Guide - Kuhn

KUHN : A MINIMUM TILLAGE SPECIALIST
Changes in the economic and regulatory environment are forcing farmers to review their
production systems by using minimum tillage techniques.
When fully implemented a minimum tillage system will enable producers to:
-reduce the cost of production e.g. machinery and labour
-rethink crop production systems e.g. retaining crop residues on the soil surface, improving
biological activity
-make environmental improvements e.g. reduce erosion, and loss of nutrients
The area of land non-ploughed worldwide has increased fourfold in the last
ten years. In Europe it is estimated that 25% of the cultivated area is no
longer ploughed. There is a diverse range of options available from direct
drilling into a cover crop to deep cultivations, which have the same versatility
as ploughing. This would suggest that equipment adaptable for use in
a variety of systems is required.
In this guide the Kuhn group outlines the various tillage systems available
to farmers and makes suggestions on which Kuhn equipment is best
adapted to which system. It must be emphasized that non-plough systems
require changes in crop agronomy such as residue management, fertiliser
policy and crop protection programmes.
To be successful, this approach needs to be viewed as a complete system.
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