2. Zero tillage : A profitable resource saving
technology in India
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3. INTRODUCTION
Zero tillage is also called as no till. Zero tillage is an extreme
form of minimum tillage. Primary tillage is completely avoided
and secondary tillage is restricted to seedbed preparation in the
row zone only.
In zero tillage, herbicide functions are extended. Before sowing,
the vegetation present has to be destroyed for which broad
spectrum, nonselective herbicides with relatively short residual
effect (Paraquat, Glyphosate etc.,) are used.
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4. MEANING OF ZERO TILLAGE
No-till farming (also called zero tillage or direct drilling) is a
way of growing crops or pasture from year to year without
disturbing the soil through tillage. No-till is an agricultural
technique which increases the amount of water that infiltrates
into the soil and increases organic matter retention and cycling
of nutrients in the soil.
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5. ORIGIN OF ZERO-TILLAGE FOR MODERN FARMS
The idea of modern no-till farming started in the 1940s
with Edward H. Faulkner. No-till farming is widely used in the
United States and the number of acres managed in this way
continues to grow. This growth is supported by a decrease in
costs related to tillage; no-till management results in fewer
passes with equipment for approximately equal harvests, and the
crop residue prevents evaporation of rainfall and increases water
infiltration into the soil.
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6. Ensure that standing stubble is not longer than 15 cm.
Calibrate the zero till machine before planting so that proper
amount of seed and fertilizer is placed in the field.
Seed depth should be kept at 5 cm.
Use of granular fertilizers so that pipes of the ZT machine are
not choked.
Apply first irrigation after 15-20 days of sowing.
Use flat fan nozzle for spraying herbicides.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR ZERO TILLAGE
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7. Earthworms form burrows which can enhance gas exchange and
improve water infiltration rates 2-10 times in soils.
Stabilizes soil aggregates, improves soil structure and limits
erosion.
Increase in the extent and density of plant roots.
Breakdown of organic matter.
USE OF EARTHWORMS IN ZERO - TILLAGE FARMING
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8. EFFECTS OF ZERO TILLAGE
Conservation of resources
1. Decreased soil erosion
2. Reduced surface runoff
3. Greater infiltration
4. Increase the potential for ground water
Reduction in tillage cost
Early sowing
Reduction in machine use
Saving irrigation
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9. 9
Less weed problem due to less soil disturbance
Control of erosion
Improved soil health
Retention of residues provide a food source to
beneficial insect, earthworms and predators
Reduce pollution
Higher grain yield
High soil moisture content due to both improved soil
structure and the decrease in evaporation due to the
crop residue mulch.
10. WHY ZERO TILLAGE….
Zero tillage will be useful concept where :
Conventional tillage has not yield more.
Requirement of energy too high.
Requirement of labour too high.
In medium to fine textured soils, use of heavy implements can
result in formation of hard puncturing wet conditions.
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11. ADVANTAGES OF ZERO TILLAGE
Reduces labor, saves time.
Saves fuel.
Reduces machinery wear.
Improves soil tilth.
Increases organic matter.
Traps soil moisture to improve water availability.
Reduces soil erosion.
Improves water quality.
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13. Issues Conventional tillage Zero tillage
Erosion Maximum Less
Soil physical health
Increase compaction due to
heavy traffic, formation of
plough pan.
Reduced compaction due to
reduced traffic.
Soil biological health
Lower due to frequent
disturbance.
More diverse and healthy
biological properties and
populations.
Water infiltration
and soil organic
matter
Lower after soil pores are
clogged. Reduced soil
organic matter.
More water infiltration and
more soil organic matter build-
up in the surface layers.
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14. Issues Conventional tillage Zero tillage
Weeds Controls weeds and also
causes more weed seeds to
germinate.
Weeds are a problem especially
in the early stages of adoption,
but problems are reduced with
time.
Soil
temperature
More variable. Moderated.
Diesel use and
costs
High and high costs
operations.
Much reduced and lowest costs
operations.
Yield Can be lower where planting
delayed.
Yield is same or higher if
planting done more timely.
.
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15. Ali Imran at al, 2013
Variety Zero Tillage Conventional
Tillage
Deep tillage
No. of spikelets
per spike
Punjab-11
Millat-11
18.67
16.29
17.90
16.74
17.86
16.58
No. of grains
per spike
Punjab-11
Millat-11
55.10
50.73
51.03
49.98
53.94
52.04
1000-grain
weight (g)
Punjab-11
Millat-11
51.23
49.45
45.73
43.18
47.93
46.04
Grain Yield (t
ha-1)
Punjab-11
Millat-11
5.20
4.54
4.76
4.30
4.71
4.26
Straw Yield (t
ha-1)
Punjab-11
Millat-11
14.13
12.45
12.40
12.36
12.62
12.06
Table 1. Response of different morphological attributes of wheat to different tillage
practices
16. Table 2. Major farm inputs used in wheat production in Haryana
Particulars Conventional
tillage
Zero tillage Change (%)
Human labour
(human days/ha)
54.9 51.2 -6.68
Machine labour
(hours/ha)
9.6 5.2 -46.30
Seeds (kg/ha) 112 108 -3.73
Irrigation water
(m3/ha)
1581.7 1302.5 -17.65
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Tripathi et al. (2013)
17. Table 3. Yield, cost and return in CT and ZT methods of wheat
production in Haryana
Particulars Conventional
Tillage
Zero Tillage Change (%)
Yield (t/ha) 5.37 5.47 1.86
Operational Cost
(Rs/ha) 29935 26124 -12.73
Gross Income
(Rs/ha) 59070 60181 1.88
Net Income
(Rs/ha) 29135 34057 16.89
Cost of Grain
Production (Rs./ha) 5.57 4.78 -14.34
Tripathi et al. (2013)
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18. CONCLUSION
Zero tillage means the crop production system, where the soil is
left undisturbed from harvest to planting, except for nutrient
injection and planting or drilling is accomplished in a narrow
seed bed. Weed control is accomplished primarily with
herbicides glyphosate.
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19. REFERENCE
Imran. A., J.Shafi, N. Akbar, W. Ahmad, M. Ali, S. Tariq (2013), Response of
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Cultivars to Different Tillage Practices Grown under
Rice-wheat Cropping System, Universal Journal of Plant Science 1(4): 125-131.
Malik, R. K., Ashok Yadav, R. S. Banga and Samar Singh (2000). Zero-till wheat
sowing and alternate herbicides against resistant Phalaris minor in Rice-Wheat
Cropping System. Indian J. Weed Scie. 32 (3 &4) : 220-222
Singh Papu, Sweta Singh, B. R. Singh (2012), Performance of Zero-Till Drill for
Wheat Cultivation at Farmer’s Fields, International Journal of Science
and Research 3:358.
Tripathi R.S., Raju R. and Thimmappa K. (2013) Impact of Zero Tillage on Economics
of Wheat Production in Haryana, Agricultural Economics Research Review 26(1):101-
108.
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