Fundamentals of the No-tillage System

No-tillage is a technique of conservationist cultivation in which planting is carried out without the steps of conventional tillage and harrowing. In this technique, it is necessary to keep the soil always covered by developing plants and by plant residues. This cover is intended to protect the soil from the direct impact of raindrops, surface runoff and water and wind erosion. No-tillage can be considered as a modality of minimum cultivation, since soil preparation is limited to the sowing furrow, sowing, fertilization and, eventually, herbicide application in a single operation.

No-tillage, defined as the process of sowing in unroot soil, in which the seed is placed in grooves or pits, with sufficient width and depth for adequate cover and contact of the seeds with the soil, is understood as a system with the Following grounds:

Elimination / reduction of soil preparation operations;

Use of herbicides to control weeds;

Training and maintenance of mulch. The data in Table 1 exemplify the effect of cultural remains on surface runoff, infiltration and soil losses.

Crop rotation;

Use of specific seeders.