ABSTRACT
This chapter follows the development of conservation tillage systems for south-eastern Australia. Vigorous research and extension programs have resulted in the development of necessary herbicides, introduction of grain legume crops, improved levels of soil fertility and crop establishment techniques which do not use cultivation. The soils of the Riverine Plain are on alluvial material, but plains and some slopes are covered with a wind-deposited mantle on which the surface soils are formed. Overgrazing and trampling by hard-hoofed animals, followed by tree clearing, ploughing for crops, and long fallowing all resulted in loss of structure and fertility of soil. The Direct Drilling cropping system allowed land to be used for grazing up until sowing time, which is economically important for mixed farms in this area. In south-eastern Australia all cropping systems now rely increasingly on grain legumes for inputs of nitrogen and for a cereal disease break. The development of conservation tillage however, does provide positive contributions to these environmental considerations.
