Conservation agriculture is recommended in the context of climate change because it can reduce labor by 20 to 50%, leading to lower energy inputs and improved nutrient use efficiency. This, in turn, contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and stabilizing soil, preventing it from breaking down and releasing carbon into the atmosphere¹. Additionally, conservation agriculture practices can make agricultural systems more resilient to climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing their role as carbon sinks².
Regarding "no till" farming, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Its effectiveness varies based on climate conditions and soil types. For instance, reduced tillage may not be appropriate for light and medium silts but could be possible on heavy silts⁸. No-till farming helps maintain soil structure and carbon by minimizing soil disturbance, which is beneficial for preserving microorganisms and promoting soil fertility[^10^]. However, the suitability of no-till farming for a particular soil type should be assessed based on specific local conditions.
(1) Why we do it? | Conservation Agriculture | Food and Agriculture .... https://www.fao.org/conservation-agriculture/overview/why-we-do-it/en/.
(2) Conservation Agriculture for Climate Change Mitigation. https://www.fao.org/climatechange/35145-01475a57da304df922b9ea292fddc29fa.pdf.
(4) No-Till Farming: Benefits, Challenges, And Sustainable Effects. https://eos.com/blog/no-till-farming/.
(5) Conservation Agriculture for Carbon Sequestration and Mitigation of .... https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-16-0827-8_22.
(6) Conservation Agriculture and Climate Change | Impacts and Adaptations. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.1201/9781003364665/conservation-agriculture-climate-change-ritesh-saha-dhananjay-barman-madhusudan-behera-gouranga-kar.
(7) Conservation Agriculture and Climate Change: An Overview. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-10-2558-7_1.
(8) Conservation Agriculture and Climate Change | SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-11620-4_22.
(9) No-Till Farming in Different Climates and Soil Types. https://vrikshafarms.com/blog/post/blog-post-no-till-farming-in-different-climates-and-soil-types.
(10) No-till Farming Systems for Sustainable Agriculture: An Overview - Springer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-46409-7_1.
Every soil can be farmed using no-till practices. However, like any practice utilized on a farm, it takes careful consideration as to how the identified primary goal is accomplished by a specific practice or set of practices and how they will be implemented as a system. While no-till farming can suppress weeds, it often necessitates the use of herbicides. This increased use of chemicals can have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, farmers adopting no-till practices need to ensure the careful and measured use of these chemicals. Since tillage fractures the soil, it disrupts soil structure, accelerating surface runoff and soil erosion. If someone prevents to do so, the seed would lack healthy growth for the process of tilling helps to mix the nutrients well and also helps the seed to be in contact with air. This in turns, provides the water go penetrate through the soil and reach the roots.
Though tilling the soil seems to have some benefits such as weed control and loosening up the compacted soil for easy sowing, but its importance is in the short term as its cons are way more tremendous.
However, applying no-till farming can have numerous long-term benefits, such as conserving soil moisture, reducing erosion, promoting soil health and it may not be suitable for all soil types and conditions. Additionally, there are ways that you can use to manage weeds in the field without tilling like utilizing Mulching practice.
"No till" is not applicable and appropriate to all soil type. Soil context determines whether to apply no till or minimum tillage. The most important thing to consider is to minimize soil disturbance during land preparation depending upon soil and crop type to be cultivated.
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is recommended to mitigate climate change as it reduces CO2 and other greenhouse gases emissions. CA act as a sink.
No-till farming generally offers more benefits than hard till; for example offers little soil microbe disturbances, improved water infiltration, reduced soil erosion, gradual addition of humus from the organic matter's decomposition, temperature smoothing under organic matter cover, etc.
In accordance with the integrated pest management philosophy, no till would not be beneficial for the control of soil grabs, which typically require exposure to the soil's surface for the sun to desiccate them (in tropical and sub-tropical climates).
Applying "no-till" to all soils may not be appropriate in all circumstances. While no-till practices can have environmental benefits such as reducing soil erosion, improving soil health, and sequestering carbon, they may not be suitable for all types of soils or agricultural systems. Some soils may require occasional tillage to address compaction or drainage issues, and certain crops or farming practices may necessitate periodic tillage for weed control or seedbed preparation. Additionally, the suitability of no-till practices can vary depending on regional climate, soil type, and crop rotation. Therefore, it's important to consider the specific characteristics of each field and make informed decisions about whether no-till is appropriate on a case-by-case basis.