By Scout Nelson
A recent study from South Dakota State University (SDSU) highlights the long-term benefits of reduced tillage on both soil health and crop productivity. The findings show that tillage reduction leads to higher levels of soil organic carbon and improved yields for crops like soybeans and corn.
“This organic matter helps hold water, it reduces erosion and that water that that soil holds is provided to the plants that are growing during the growing season,” said SDSU distinguished professor David Clay. “And it can help fill the gap during rainfalls that oftentimes don’t align with what the crop needs during a growing season.”
Historically, early farming practices on South Dakota’s prairies included the use of moldboard plows, which disrupted native grasses and led to ecological issues such as the Dust Bowl. These practices also depleted soil carbon levels, which are essential for storing nutrients and retaining water.
Over two decades, researchers analyzed more than 12 million soil samples from across the region. The results showed that soil carbon increased significantly—by over 400 pounds per acre per year in some areas—due to reduced tillage.
“That carbon got to a certain point, and our microbial communities got to a certain point… it was being mineralized and made available to the growing plant,” said Clay. This also enabled farmers to reduce nitrogen use by about 50 pounds per acre.
Clay emphasized the importance of minimizing tillage and maintaining ground cover after harvest to further prevent erosion. “What we’re seeing is large reductions in erosion… somewhere between 20 and 30 percent,” he added.
He concluded, “With that improved health, we think we’re going to see yield benefits linked to increasing water stored in our soils, which will then turn around and increase our yield potentials even further.”
Photo Credit:gettyimages-studio2013
Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Corn, Soybeans