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| Casual observation indicates far more soil loss in tilled situations (this year, there's a substantial pile of silt in the waterways and roadway ditches from the tilled fields). All of the scientific studies done around the world show far greater soil loss in tilled scenarios versus no-till. Often 20-fold or 30-fold greater losses in tilled. But the amount of crop residues in no-till affects how well the system controls erosion. Also, how much moisture is already in the soil. Cover crops help on both counts -- more residue, plus extracting some soil moisture to make way for new rainfall to infiltrate instead of running downslope. Finally, water-stable aggregates influence infiltration and resistance to erosion. Again, more roots and fungal hyphae create more WS aggregates. Keep the soil active -- grow something! | |
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Topsoil loss this winter...........
