Autumn 2023 EN

BIOGAS JOURNAL | AUTUMN_2023 ENGLISH ISSUE
The Advantages of
Conservation Tillage
Consistent no-till farming, minimal soil disturbance, and continuous
soil cover improve soil structure and water management.
They ensure optimal nutrient supply and prevent nutrient
leaching. They protect against erosion, enhance topsoil
organic matter content, and promote carbon sequestration. In
addition, they reduce energy requirements and lower production
costs per unit area. Conservation tillage preserves soil
fertility, resulting in long-term stable yields.
Source: Swiss-No-Till-Guide
tial development phase. He prefers growing a cover crop
instead of a undersown crop because nurse crops can be
difficult to control: “Either they become too strong or too weak.”
“When less light reaches the ground, there is less weed pressure,”
Lauper says, highlighting another important function of green manuring.
“In maize cultivation, dry soil is important, and should be
at least 8 degrees Celsius. There is a bit of a contradiction here: If
you have abundant, good green manure, the soil doesn’t dry out as
quickly – and it doesn’t warm up as quickly either. The beneficial
effect of covering also has this disadvantageous effect. To avoid
using herbicides, we roll down the green manure if necessary
before sowing.”
On a trial field, the treatment with a disc roller between the rows
yielded good results. However, Lauper does not see no-till farming
as purely ideological. “With mulch seeding, you have rapid drying
at the time of sowing. With no-till farming, you may have to wait a
bit longer, and if it’s a wet spring, a pass with a soil cultivation implement
can be helpful. But it shouldn’t be too wet either. It’s always
a balance.” The soil may possibly also require loosen-
Lauper’s drill machine was
still in full operation for
sowing cover crops during the
on-site visit in mid-November.
No-till farming of grain:
The crumbly soil with a
significant amount of
earthworm castings can be
seen between the rows.
ents
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