Tillage

As to tillage is called in agriculture and horticulture with a mechanical intervention in the soil associated operations that avoiding the manufacture or maintenance of a favorable for plant growth, but at the same time damage ( eg erosion ) cause soil condition. In addition, the procedural requirements for plant production (eg, trafficability, stoning, dam formation ) should be created.

Characteristic for all tillage practices it, that they create the solid soil particles contained in the soil and the air and water units are placed in the correct ratio and this ratio is obtained is. This is achieved, for example, proportion and volume of macropores increases or by intervening in the living conditions of the soil fauna biogenic Durchporung the soil and living obstruction of soil aggregates is promoted.

By suitable tillage method, also allows, among others, the water content of the soil affect (eg, reduction of evaporation by breaking the Bodenkapillare ), competition and harmful plant growth regulating ( weeds ), attack the plant and animal pests, improve the availability of nutrients or their leaching reduce and deepen the topsoil.

The different tillage systems are divided into those of primary tillage and secondary tillage. Characteristic of the primary tillage is a mechanical intervention in the ground up to topsoil, possibly even beyond it ( subsoiling, deep plowing ). The secondary soil cultivation, however, comprises processing programs to a depth of about 10 cm for the production of a seed bed. More also only superficial tillage work is maintenance work, for example, root crops, such as for weed control, Kapillarbrechung to reduce evaporation or ventilation of Oberkrume.

Primary tillage

As a primary tillage or primary tillage is called in agriculture and horticulture not only a superficial loosening, mixing, and possibly -turning ( plunging ) Processing of the upper soil layers. Common tools for primary tillage are the manually operated spade ( see also spade culture), the digging machine, the cultivator or Schwergrubber, the tiller or plow. Editing is done in topsoil, ie in the region of the so-called processing horizon, therefore, are common machining depths between 15 cm and 35 cm.

The primary tillage precedes the secondary tillage and sowing. Sometimes primary and secondary tillage, however, the time and cost savings by either an agricultural machine used at the same time (example: krumentiefes milling) or done by a combination of several tillage equipment in one operation.

Conventional tillage

Typically called for conventional tillage, also turning tillage or break, is the regular use of the plow. Ploughing effects on soil deep a turn, loosening, crumbling and aeration of the topsoil. By processing a clean, free of residues arable surface is achieved because both fertilizer, crop residues and vegetation are worked by the turning process (eg weeds ). The upheaval of the land thus also provides an important contribution to weed control, pest and disease control dar. The strong intervention into the soil fauna by plowing but also has adverse effects, such as damage to the earthworms population. Furthermore, the break of the arable land can be a significant cause of soil erosion. However, the turning tillage is combined with a subsequent seedbed preparation continues to be the standard procedure for the preparation of the seed of the main crop.

The plow depth was the use of draft animals before a two-horse trailer or plow at the beginning of the 20th century, often only about 10-15 cm. Larger working depths, as required, for example, the cultivation of sugar beet, required the use of three or five strong draft animals. With advent of the combine harvester and the whereabouts of the straw on the field, the groove depth had to be increased to ensure proper secondary tillage. However, nowadays, the optimum depth of usually about 25 cm is often exceeded. The resulting by plowing plow pan compaction are difficult to eliminate by subsoiling or growing deep -rooted plants ( cf. green manure ).

Ploughless tillage

Characteristic of the no-till tillage, also called non-inverting or conservation tillage, is the omission of soil turn. Crop residues of the previous crops, fertilizer or even any weeds will not work everywhere, but mixed depending on the intensity of the applied working method more or less in the Oberkrume. The practical importance of conservation tillage took only about rising tractor services, on the one hand, the working width of the machine should be at least the width of the tractor and on the other hand, the devices used have a very high power requirement. Typical equipment for the no-till tillage are the cultivators and the Schwergrubber, which is sometimes also called chisel plow or chisel plow.

Because of the high degree of conservation of the soil horizons and the soil fauna is increased by the no-till processing soil fertility, it also contributes to the stabilization of the soil structure at. The waiver of a turn of the soil can help so also reduce the occurrence of erosion and Verschlämmungen.

However, the no-till farming requires consistent disease, pest and Beikrautregulierungsstrategien. Just by the lack of accommodation of stubble and straw can cause carryover of fungal infections and pest invasions in the following crop. Weed seeds accumulate in the upper soil layer, so that the cost of controlling unwanted weeds growing. Often the no-till tillage with the use of pre-emergence herbicides are combined.

The no-till primary tillage is currently the most common method for the cultivation of catch crops. With regard to the problem of soil erosion in maize cultivation methods are used to this also amplified non-inverting. Due to the disadvantages described above, it is often found in agricultural practice, alternating with the plow furrow. On -prone sealing storage silt or sandy soils, on waterlogged areas or in seed multiplication a plow waiver is not displayed.

Secondary tillage

The secondary tillage is limited usually to the top, up to 10 cm thick soil layer. It shall prepare the sowing or planting and is therefore also called seedbed preparation. In the secondary processing, the top layer of soil is often crumbled fine, as is the case for primary tillage, so that a flat and not encrusted, easily breaking through of the seedlings topsoil layer is formed. On the other hand, targets the secondary processing spread also aims, through consolidation measures under a thin top layer of loose soil to crops connection to the capillary system of the sub- soil and consequently there to secure stored soil water.

Direct seeding

For direct sowing will waive any tillage before sowing. The direct seeding is used under arid conditions in pure grain crop rotations, for example in the United States or in Australia on a large scale. Whether a waiver of tillage is economically and ecologically reasonable under the humid conditions in Central Europe, is still controversial.