Why is it worth limiting ploughing?

For decades, ploughing has been regarded as the basic tillage operation preparing the field for sowing. Turning the soil was meant to loosen it, destroy weeds and mix plant residues with deeper soil layers. Why? In theory, this was supposed to provide crops with a fresh supply of nutrients “buried” at greater depths.

Today, however, in the face of climate change and increasing pressure to protect soil, the legitimacy of intensive ploughing is increasingly questioned. The long-term effects of this practice often cause more harm than benefit – high energy costs, degradation of soil structure and a decline in biodiversity are just some of the negative consequences that begin to outweigh the traditional advantages of ploughing. Modern agriculture is therefore looking for tillage methods that are more soil-friendly and better suited to today’s realities.

Important! Supporters of ploughing often repeat a familiar refrain: “My grandfather ploughed, my father ploughed, so I will plough too.” Yet modern ploughing has little in common with the way our respected “ancestors” cultivated land – in fact, no till farming is as old as agriculture itself! In the past, soil was loosened not by turning it over, but by scratching or ridging with simple tools.

The costs of ploughing: fuel, time, machine wear

Ploughing is among the most labour-intensive and fuel-consuming field operations. It is estimated that soil cultivation accounts for around 25–40% of total energy inputs in crop production, with ploughing alone responsible for 15–50% of fuel consumption and 20–40% of labour inputs.

Deep ploughing requires multiple passes with a heavy tractor – the traditional tillage system (ploughing plus secondary cultivation) usually involves 5–6 separate field operations before sowing. Such a work cycle can take over 100 minutes per hectare, whereas simplified systems reduce the number of passes to 1–2, cutting working time to about 30–50 min/ha. Fewer operations also mean less wear on tractors and implements – abandoning ploughing saves not only fuel, but also maintenance and depreciation costs.

Important! According to analyses, switching to no till farming can reduce tillage costs by around € 100/ha in fuel alone, plus several hundred zlotys per hectare thanks to lower equipment wear.

In short, less ploughing means real savings in time and money, directly improving farm profitability. Importantly, reducing intensive tillage often allows yields to be maintained at similar levels, especially when alternative soil-loosening methods (e.g. shallow tillage or strip subsoiling) are introduced instead of the traditional plough.

Soil erosion and degradation after ploughing

Intensive ploughing leads to accelerated soil degradation – both visible to the naked eye and hidden.

Visible losses primarily include soil erosion: after turning, the topsoil is left bare and uncovered, making it vulnerable to washing away by rain and blowing away by wind. Traditional ploughing intensifies water and wind erosion, which over time results in the loss of the fertile topsoil layer. Studies show that each ploughing operation can cause soil water losses of 10–30 mm (i.e. litres per m²), and freshly ploughed furrows dry out and evaporate water exceptionally quickly.

Important! Under drought conditions, losing 10–30 mm of water can make the difference between successful and failed emergence. That is why simplified and no-till systems limit the number of operations, so as not to “release” water from the soil unnecessarily.

Hidden losses concern soil structure and life. Ploughing disrupts the natural arrangement of soil aggregates – drying and mechanical fragmentation destroy the crumb structure, worsening soil properties. In addition, turning soil layers causes strong aeration of deeper zones, accelerating the oxidation of organic matter (humus) and the release of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

Soil organisms – beneficial bacteria, fungi, earthworms – lose favourable living conditions and their populations decline dramatically.

As a result, soil subjected to years of intensive ploughing becomes biologically and chemically impoverished, requiring ever higher doses of synthetic fertilisers and plant protection products to maintain yields. What is worse, declining humus content reduces the soil’s ability to store water – ploughed, fragmented soil quickly loses moisture and is prone to crusting.

Important! Regular deep ploughing causes a cascade of damage: from destruction of structure and humus, through erosion and water loss, to depletion of soil life and productive potential.

Healthy soil without deep ploughing

There is growing evidence that giving up annual deep ploughing can benefit soil health. Healthy, fertile soil can renew its productivity without turning furrows – it only needs the right conditions.

Limiting intensive digging allows soil to retain its natural layering and structure, promoting the formation of stable aggregates (crumb structures) that resist erosion and retain more water. Unploughed soil holds moisture better in the cultivated layer – studies have shown that no till farming counteract drying of the topsoil and help crops survive drought periods. In addition, leaving crop residues on the surface (mulch) acts as a protective cover, reducing evaporation and shielding the soil from weather extremes.

Soil biological life also plays a crucial role. In no till farming, the activity of microorganisms, earthworms and other soil organisms increases significantly. These organisms take over much of the “tillage work” – creating channels, loosening and aerating soil, mixing residues and making nutrients available to plants. The result is healthier soil with better biological balance, capable of natural regeneration. Over time, no till farming increase humus content, improve structure and water-holding capacity, and make crops more stable and resilient to stress.

In short: there is no need to turn furrows to supply crops with “buried” nutrients. Healthy, fertile soil functions perfectly well without a plough! By choosing simplified and no-till methods, farmers care for this living ecosystem instead of destroying each year what nature laboriously rebuilds.
More about microorganisms and soil life can be found in e-book 1.

Prejudices against no till farming

If, in theory, ploughing has so many drawbacks and no-till so many advantages, why do many farmers still stick to the plough? One reason is that many myths have grown around no-till cultivation, such as:
- It allows no soil disturbance at all (except direct seeding),
- Disc harrows cannot be used because they turn soil, nor manure because it needs mixing,
- It leads to increased herbicide use, including glyphosate,
- It cannot be introduced on every soil type,
- It increases the soil seed bank,
- It is unsuitable for root crops.

These claims are myths – and we will address them in this e-book. As for the facts: no one denies that transitioning to no till farming involves challenges, and the transition period can be difficult. Farmers mention issues such as increased pressure from certain diseases (especially fungal ones: Fusarium, various leaf spots, Ascochyta, anthracnose, smuts, grey mould) and pests (slugs, rodents).

However, with knowledge, these challenges can be managed. And that is exactly the purpose of this e-book: to provide farmers with practical knowledge on how to farm without the plough – but with yields.