Role of Conservation Tillage Strategies in Reducing Soil Degradation and Enhancing Water Infiltration

Abstract

Conservation tillage practices, including no-till, strip-till, and mulch-till, have gained prominence as sustainable agriculture methods to mitigate soil degradation and improve water infiltration. This study evaluates the impact of different conservation tillage strategies on soil health parameters and water dynamics in agricultural systems. Field experiments were conducted at multiple sites across India, comparing conventional tillage with conservation tillage treatments. Soil samples were analysed for organic matter content, aggregate stability, bulk density, and nutrient levels. Water infiltration rates were measured using double-ring infiltrometers. Results showed that conservation tillage, particularly no-till and strip-till, significantly improved soil organic matter, aggregate stability, and porosity compared to conventional tillage. Water infiltration rates were enhanced by up to 45% under conservation tillage practices. Mulch-till also showed benefits, though to a lesser extent. Crop yields under conservation tillage were comparable to conventional tillage, indicating no yield penalty. In case of conservation tillage practices, No-till (NT) and Strip-till (ST) recorded 18-35% higher Soil organic carbon (SOC) compared to Conventional tillage (CT), while Mulch-till (MT) showed 10-20% improvement. For Aggregate stability, NT and ST treatments exhibited 25-40% higher mean weight diameter (MWD) values at both depths, followed by MT with 15-25% improvement. For soil nutrients, NT and ST maintained 10-20% higher nutrient levels compared to CT, while MT showed 5-10% improvement. Lastly, in case of crop yield, NT and ST maintained yields similar to CT in most cases, while MT showed a 5-10% yield reduction in some instances. The findings suggest that adopting conservation tillage strategies can effectively combat soil degradation, improve water retention and infiltration, and sustain agricultural productivity in India. Further research is needed to optimise conservation tillage practices for different cropping systems and agro-ecological regions.