Following storms, runoff water can be collected from cropland to provide visible evidence of water quality benefits. Runoff water from a no-till field is in the jar at the left (bottom photo) and from a conventional-till field in the jar on the right.

Conservation tillage systems offer numerous benefits that intensive or conventional tillage simply can't match. Here's a brief description of the major ones.* (Farmers new to conservation tillage may also find it helpful to view these benefits as goals to achieve.)

Reduced labor requirements - No-till requires as little as one trip for planting compared to two or more tillage operations plus planting for conventional tillage.

Time savings - On a 500-acre farm, the time savings can be as great as 225 hours or almost four 60-hour work weeks.

Reduced machinery wear - Fewer trips save an estimated $5 per acre on machinery wear and maintenance costs. That's a $2,560 savings on a 500-acre farm.

Fuel savings - Save an average 3.5 gallonsan acre compared to conventional tillage systems.

Improved long-term productivity - The less you till, the more carbon you keep in the soil to build organic matter and promote future productivity. Intensive tillage speeds the breakdown of crop residues and the loss of organic matter.

Higher soil moisture - Crop residues reduce water evaporation from the top few inches of the soil. No-till can make as much as two additional inches of water available for growing plants in late summer.

Improved water infiltration - Crop residues act as tiny dams to slow water runoff from the field, allowing the water more time to soak into the soil. Infiltration is also increased by channels (macropores) created by earthworms and old plant roots that are left intact. All help significantly reduce or eliminate field runoff.

Decreased soil compaction - Reduced weight and horsepower requirements with no-till can help minimize compaction. Additional field traffic required by intensive tillage breaks down the soil structure, promoting compaction.

Improved soil tilth - No-till increases soil particle aggregation (small soil clumps) which makes it easier for water to move through the soil and allows plants to use less energy to establish roots.

More wildlife - Crop residues provide shelter and food for wildlife, such as game birds and small animals.

Improved surface water quality - Crop residues help hold soil particles and associated nutrients and pesticides on the field. On some sites, conservation tillage can cut herbicide runoff rates in half, thus protecting lake, river, and stream water quality.

Reduced soil erosion - Crop residues on the soil surface reduce erosion by water and wind. Depending on the amount of residues present, soil erosion can be reduced by up to 90% compared to an unprotected, intensively tilled field.

Reduced release of carbon gases - Less tillage keeps naturally occurring carbon in the soil for use as organic matter. Intensive tillage releases soil carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide where it can combine with other gases to contribute to global warming.

Reduced air pollution - Crop residues reduce wind erosion and the amount of dust in the air. Lower horsepower requirements and fewer trips also reduce fossil fuel emissions.