No-Till in Argentina Ing. (M. Sc.) Agustín Bianchini No-Till Farmer’s Argentinean Association No-Till Farmer’s Argentinean Association

No-Till Expansion Latin America = 34.2 million ha Latin America = 34.2 million ha World Total = 72 million ha Argentina = 15.1 million ha Argentina = 15.1 million ha Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2003)

No-Till area evolution for wheat, corn, and soybean – 2002 Source: AAPRESID

Crops in the Pampas Region Production and Area Evolution Production Area

CropProductionArea Yield Increase 1,000 tn1,000 hakg/ha Soybean Wheat Corn Sunflower Crops in the Pampas Region Yield Evolution

Actual and Potential Yield for Advanced Technology Farmers

No-Till Adoption Benefits  greater stability and yield increase  increase in cropped area  lower production costs

WHAT HAPPENED WITH SOYBEAN? The decade of innovations No-Till Maturity Group IV Round-Up Ready

Source: Prieto Soybean No Soybean

Physical Degradation

Exports and Nutrient Consumption in Wheat, Corn, Soybean and Sunflower Pampas Region, Argentina / In 2000/01, nutrient replenishment was of 24%, 42%, and less than 1% of the N, P, and K extracted by grains, respectively In 2000/01, nutrient replenishment was of 24%, 42%, and less than 1% of the N, P, and K extracted by grains, respectively Potential needs of 1 million ton N, 160 thousand ton P, Potential needs of 1 million ton N, 160 thousand ton P, and 650 thousand ton K

The Soil in No-Till

In no-till the function of the roots and the macro and meso fauna plays an important role in the macropore regeneration Key Concept 1

The fauna action in the pore generation The fauna action in the pore generation

Do not disturbe the continuity of the pore network (ocasional tillage effect) Do not disturbe the continuity of the pore network (ocasional tillage effect) Alternate root systems to generate macropores in all the soil profile Alternate root systems to generate macropores in all the soil profile Maintain a stable structure in the first inches of the soil profile (residue cover) Maintain a stable structure in the first inches of the soil profile (residue cover) Generate favorable conditions for the meso and macrofauna developement (stable environment, C adition) Generate favorable conditions for the meso and macrofauna developement (stable environment, C adition) What to do to maintain the macroporosity?

“In no-till the tillage layer does not exist, in its place there is another layer enriched with organic residues, modifying the soil organic matter dynamics and the nutrient cycles” Moraes Sa, 1993 Key Concept 2

The soil organic matter is considered the most important simple indicator to define the soil quality Larson & Pierce, 1991 OM is a key component in NT Moraes Sa, 1993 OM is a key component in NT Moraes Sa, 1993

NTCT Depth (cm) mg N 100g -1 dry soil Organic N in a no-till field and conventional tillage after 10 years The highest proportion of the MO increase comes from the labile fractions Source: Moraes Sá

Source: C. Belloso

Management to increase soil organic Carbon Paustian, 1997 Reduce or eliminate tillageReduce or eliminate tillage Rotations with corn, grain sorghum, pasturesRotations with corn, grain sorghum, pastures Include permanent gramineae and legumesInclude permanent gramineae and legumes Increase time of soil covered with vegetationIncrease time of soil covered with vegetation Increase production and return residue to the soilIncrease production and return residue to the soil No Till No Till Crop Rotation Crop Rotation Diversity Diversity Intensity Intensity Fertilization Fertilization

Key Concept 3 In no-till we make a more efficient use of the water as we increase infiltration, decrease run-off and evaporation losses, and improve the water retention (water storage)

Cover the soil with crop residues in an homogeneous and durable way Cover the soil with crop residues in an homogeneous and durable way Maintain a stable structure, mainly in the first inches on the soil profile Maintain a stable structure, mainly in the first inches on the soil profile What to do to improve the rainfall water use efficiency?

Key Concept 4 Balanced fertilization (crop nutrition) and adequate crop rotation are two of the most important practices for the no- till system

Fertilization of the rotation Balanced fertilization Higher yield response in the rotation Nutrient residual effects Balance inmovilization-release Soil biological activity

NPNP NPS Santa Fe, Argentina

Crop Rotation Planned and ordered crop sequence with the objective: Maximize productivity,Maximize productivity, minimize risks,minimize risks, and preserve the involved resources.and preserve the involved resources.

Diversification of productive risksDiversification of productive risks Inhibitory effect on pathogensInhibitory effect on pathogens Interruption of weed and insect cyclesInterruption of weed and insect cycles Chemical fertility: nutrient balanceChemical fertility: nutrient balance Biological activity and diversityBiological activity and diversity Improves soil physical conditions (structure and porosity)Improves soil physical conditions (structure and porosity) Intensification: use the stored water in NT.Intensification: use the stored water in NT. Crop Rotation: Advantages

The biomass production for the surface residue cover and roots in the soil profile, associated to the crop rotation, is the key component in the no-till system Adapted from Moraes Sá Conclusion

Final comment... It must be remembered that there is no harder job, more difficult to do or more uncertain in success, than being a leader imposing a new paradigm because every innovator has as enemy the one that was successful under the old concepts and as a weak defender the one that probably will succeed under the new concepts... Machiavelli

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