Conservation Tillage

Conservation tillage is a method of cultivating crops to reduce soil erosion. Soil loss through water erosion is greatly reduced when crop residue is left on the soil surface and soil drainage, organic matter, and moisture content are improved. Conservation tillage also reduces air pollution (dust and diesel emissions), sequesters carbon (inhibiting global warming), improves water quality, and creates wildlife habitat. Conservation tillage uses half as many tractors to cultivate a field as conventional tillage, translating to lower fuel consumption and labor costs, decreased material inputs, and less maintenance spending. In total, savings have been estimated between $40 and $75 per acre per year, a large savings compared to input cost and crop value.

Sustainable Conservation is studying the adoption of conservation tillage practices in California's Central Valley. With team members from UC Davis, United States Department of Agriculture, and project farmers, Sustainable Conservation will demonstrate the effectiveness of this tillage practice that maintains good crop yields while reducing air pollution.

While conservation tillage is widely used throughout the Midwest, comprising more than half of the crop acreage in the U.S., less than 1% of California row crops use this method. Research shows that California farmers have not adopted conservation tillage because of lack of information and resistance to change. Sustainable Conservation is educating farmers and encouraging them to adopt this economical and environmentally friendly practice.