Tillage management can be applied to agricultural soil to minimise the frequency or intensity of tillage operations which are currently associated with organic matter decline, high energy use, erosion and loss of biodiversity. A number of tillage management practices may be considered beneficial to soil, such as reduced tillage (minimum and zero tillage) or traffic management. SoilCare has tested some innovative soil cultivation practices to improve soil quality.  The results of the SoilCare experiments can be viewed by clicking on the fact sheets below.   At the bottom of the page are links to further practical resources for farmers.

 

SoilCare experiment results - Fact sheets

 

Czech cultivationsmall   Belgium exp 2 cultivation   greece exp 2 tillage olives   italy tillage and radish.png
 Czech Republic: Effects of tillage and fertilisation on crops.      Belgium: Soil cultivation and cover crops  

 Greece: Effects of tillage practices on soil erosion in olive groves

   Italy: Conservation tillage and deep rooting tillage radish to alleviate compaction
 Read this experiment factsheet in Czech here   Read this experiment factsheet in Dutch here   Read this experiment factsheet in Greek here.     Read this experiment factsheet in Italian here.  
Spain tabernas1   Spain aguamarga irrigation or cultivation

  

 

UK cultivation

  Hungary cultivation
Spain: SICS, including minimum tillage, for improving soil health   Spain: Irrigation, no-till, and cover crops for improving soil health    UK: No-till farming for alleviating soil compaction     Hungary: Monitoring and analysis of soil cultivation
Download this factsheet in Spanish here   Download this factsheet in Spanish here        Download this factsheet in Hungarian here
             
Romania factsheet front cover1            
Romania: Tillage for improving soil health            
Download this factsheet in Romanian here.            

 

 

Further existing practical information on minimum tillage, zero tillage and managing trafficking that will be of interest to farmers can be found below. 

Min tillage Zero tillage  Controlled traffic 

  Minimum tillage 

 Zero tillage

 Managing trafficking