ABSTRACT

This chapter aims to outline scientific and practical experiences with conservation tillage, to summarize benefits and drawbacks, and to indicate possible ecological consequences. The mouldboard plow is the most widespread and important implement of primary tillage in Germany. The practical implication is that the applied split applications of nitrogen fertilizer have to be balanced according to the tillage system. The acceptance of conservation tillage may be promoted by new technologies that allow loosening of compacted layers in top- and subsoil by a noninversion action. Omitting the turning action of moldboard plowing induces a stratification and concentration of various chemical compounds in the soil. Modern agronomy facilitates soil erosion by wind and water. Reasons for this trend are documented by the examples: plowing up permanent pasture, enlarging arable fields, destroying wind breaks, consolidating scattered holdings, switching over from farmyard manuring to immediate organic residue incorporation, controlling weeds, and simplifying crop rotations.