Yes, conservation tillage helps water conservation and increases soil organic matter.

Water conservation

Conservation tillage practices, such as no-till, ridge-till, and mulch-till, reduce soil disturbance and leave more crop residue on the soil surface. This helps to improve soil water infiltration and reduce runoff. Studies have shown that conservation tillage can increase soil water storage by up to 20%.

Soil organic matter

Conservation tillage practices also help to increase soil organic matter. Soil organic matter is a vital component of healthy soil, and it plays an important role in water holding capacity, nutrient availability, and soil structure. Conservation tillage practices help to increase soil organic matter by reducing soil erosion and promoting the decomposition of crop residues. Studies have shown that conservation tillage can increase soil organic matter by up to 30% over conventional tillage practices.

Nutrient losses

Nutrient losses can be higher under conservation tillage than under conventional tillage, but this is only a temporary phenomenon. In the long term, conservation tillage practices can help to reduce nutrient losses by improving soil structure and increasing soil organic matter.

Nutrient losses under conservation tillage are higher in the short term because:

• Crop residues on the soil surface can temporarily reduce the availability of some nutrients, such as nitrogen.
• Conservation tillage practices can reduce the movement of nutrients through the soil profile, which can lead to higher nutrient concentrations in the surface soil.

However, in the long term, conservation tillage practices can help to reduce nutrient losses by:

• Improving soil structure, which increases the soil's ability to hold nutrients.
• Increasing soil organic matter, which acts as a reservoir for nutrients.
• Reducing soil erosion, which helps to prevent nutrients from being lost off the field.

Overall, conservation tillage is a beneficial practice for both water conservation and soil health. While nutrient losses may be higher in the short term, they are typically lower in the long term.

Here are some things that farmers can do to minimize nutrient losses under conservation tillage:

• Use cover crops to improve soil health and reduce nutrient leaching.
• Apply nutrients judiciously, based on soil testing and crop needs.
• Use precision agriculture technologies to target nutrient applications.
• Avoid applying nutrients in the fall, when they are more likely to leach over the winter.

Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Conservation tillage reduces soil erosion, conserves soil moisture, conserves energy, increases soil organic matter content, and consequently, soil quality. However, conservation tillage may compact surface soil horizons and may lead to poor root growth.Conservation tillage decreases soil disturbance and decomposition, leaving surface residue cover that can increase water retention, soil C and N, and potentially crop yield. With frequent tillage sustained over a couple years, topsoil loss begins to exceed replacement. In time, the soil is in danger of yield setbacks due to organic matter and nutrient loss as well as the damage done to the soil's physical properties. The practice of tillage appears to be on a similar path. For generations, farmers believed tillage improved soil organic matter levels. Intuitively, it made sense. Decomposing plant residue is a big source of soil organic matter, so getting more of that plant residue into the soil should increase soil organic matter. It is often assumed that reduced tillage or no-till systems may contribute to C sequestration due to improved soil aggregation and thus physical protection of organic matter, while conventional tillage leads to a disruption of (macro) aggregates and increased mineralization of organic matter. Tillage treatment is a traditional soil improvement method, which can significantly regulate the dynamic balance of water, fertilizer, gas and heat in the soil. It also affects the structural stability of the soil and the absorption of nutrients by crops, and finally affects crop yield. Nutrient losses may be minimized through the appropriate use of deep-rooting cover crops that recycle nutrients leached from the topsoil, moisture management, and improved collection, storage and application of wastes from crops, livestock and the household. With reduced tillage, the compaction can build up over time and can actually lead to a reduction in infiltration. As a consequence, strip-till and other conservation tillage practices can lead to increased runoff and increased agrichemical and nutrient losses.