1. No-Till in Argentina
Agustín Bianchini

2. World Total = 95 million ha Latin America = 47 million ha
No-Till Expansion
World Total = 95 million ha
Latin America = 47 million ha
Argentina = 20 million ha
In the world No tillage has increased slowly but, in some countries, it has been adopted quickly, like in WA and South America. Despite such a slow increase, these 95 million hectares spread all over the globe, probe that as Dr. Shirley Phillips said “The only limit to No Till is in your mind”.
Source: Derpsch – AAPRESID (2006)

3. No-Till evolution in Argentina (1977-2005)
As the figure shows, No till in Argentina has developed since AAPRESID’s foundation at a very rapid rate, even before GMO crops adoption.
Two years ago, there was already almost 20 million hectares under NT, that represent about 70% of the total cropped area.
Source: AAPRESID (2005)

4. No-till area evolution: 1977 to 2009
Source: Aapresid
Area (hectares)

5. East to West Soils Silt-clay loam to sandy Rainfall 1000 to 500 mm
OM 5% to less 1.5%
Growing season 270 days (N) to 180 (S)
No snow

6. SH NH Winter Soil in Spring Profitable crops Farming size
Capital Available
Farmer Target
Dry Wet & Snowy
Cool-Warm Cold
Summer Summer
Big Small
Low High
Reduce Maximize costs & production
risks

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

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

9. NT CT Energy requirement Capital investment Labor Training (knowledge)
Less More
Less More
MORE Less

10. Physical Degradation

11. P Availability in the Pampas Region
Darwich, 1980, 1993 and 1999
Area I : Low (< 10 ppm)
Area II : Medium (10-20 ppm)
Area III : Adequate (> 20 ppm)

12. The Soil in No-Till

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

17. The fauna action in the pore generation

18. What to do to maintain the macroporosity?
Do not disturbe the continuity of the pore network (ocasional tillage effect)
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)
Generate favorable conditions for the meso and macrofauna developement (stable environment, C adition)

19. Key Concept 2
“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

20. OM is a key component in NT Moraes Sa, 1993
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

21. Organic N in a no-till field and conventional tillage after 10 years
mg N 100g-1 dry soil 50
100
150
200
250
300 CT NT 4 8
Depth (in.) 12 16
The highest proportion of the OM increase comes from the labile fractions 20 24 28
Source: Moraes Sá

22. Source: C. Belloso

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

24. 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)

25. NO-TILLAGE is a synonym of crop residue
What is no-till? It is basically a production system in which we harvest a crop, we spread the crop residues on the soil surface, and after that we plant the following crop. So there is no tillage operation under this system.

26. Under CT, there is a bare soil that receives the direct impact of the raindrop, so when the drop hits the soil, it destroys the soil surface structure and aggregates. This process limits the water infiltration, and soon we start to have water runoff with the results that we can see in this picture.

27. Under NT the rain drop hits the crop residue or straw, it does not affect the soil structure, and we have a higher water infiltration. As a result, we have cleaner rivers, streams and lakes.

28. What to do to improve the rainfall water use efficiency?
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

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

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

31. NPS NP
Santa Fe, Argentina

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

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

35. The dilemma
“The humanity faces today a dilemma with no apparent solution, between the ghost of the lack of food for an increasing demand in quantity and quality, or a destruction of the natural resources needed to produce them”.

37. The no-till system Consequences
- 96% less soil erosion.
66% less fuel use.
Maintenance or improvement of the organic matter.
Higher water use efficiency.
Increase in soil fertility.
Lower production costs.
Higher production stability and higher yield potential.
TANGIBLE BENEFITS FOR THE FARMER
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

38. The no-till system Benefits, beyond the farmer
Better soils, higher capability to produce food and energy.
Less competition for drinkable water (strategic resource).
Higher water quality (lower erosion and contamination risk).
GHG emissions reduction, positive impact on climate change.
Less pressure on HCV and fragile areas (by production increase).
Possibility of producing in degraded and/or fragile lands without the known risks of conventional tillage.
BENEFITS TANGIBLE FOR THE SOCIETY (EXTERNALITY)
Certified
Agriculture
The evolution of NT

39. Food companies working on sustainability

40. Input companies, farm associations, NGOs, working on sustainability
Field to Market

41. The Challenge
To develop an alternative that combines the interests – many times confronted – of reaching a production:
Economically viable for farmers.
Environmentally sustainable.
Socially accepted.
Energetically efficient.

42. No-Till in Argentina
Agustín Bianchini