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Contact
Dr. Thomas Alföldi
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL
Ackerstrasse 113
5070 Frick
Switzerland
Tel.+41 865 7272
Fax +41 865 7273
thomas.alfoeldi(at)fibl.org
www.fibl.org
Video: Effects of reduced tillage on yield, weeds and soil carbon
In the CORE ORGANIC II project, TILMAN-ORG, data from ongoing trials and the published literature were compiled to conduct a meta-analysis on the effects of reduced tillage on yields, weed pressure and soil C in organic farming.
Julia Cooper
The results show that replacing deep inversion tillage with some form of reduced tillage intensity results in yield declines of 5-10%. However, relative to shallow inversion tillage, there is no yield penalty from further reducing tillage intensity. Weed pressure does not appear to be the sole cause of yield declines. Reducing tillage intensity also offers an opportunity to further increase the soil C sequestration ecosystem service provisioning of organic farming. Humid oceanic climates are least suited to implementation of reduced tillage systems in organic farming, while the production in the Mediterranean appears to benefit from reduced tillage.
Futher information
TILMAN-ORG.net: Video: Effects of reduced tillage on yield, weeds and soil carbon
Contact
Dr. Thomas Alföldi
