**6. Strategies for implementing strategic tillage for soil management**

### **6.1 Conservation tillage**

The phrase "conservation tillage" can be used to describe a wide variety of approaches to soil management. As per the research conducted by Mannering and Fenster in 1983 [13], conservation tillage can be defined as a tillage system that aims to minimize soil or water loss in comparison to conventional tillage practices. This frequently entails the utilization of non-inversion tillage techniques that maintain an adequate layer of residue mulch on the surface of the soil. As per the CTIC, conservation tillage is a designated tillage and planting approach that guarantees a minimum of 30% soil surface coverage through residue after planting. **Table 2** describes the various aspects of conservation tillage. The primary objective of this system is to effectively mitigate water and wind erosion and conservation of soil. In order to keep soil losses to a minimal, it is imperative that certain standards be upheld while taking into account the wind and water conditions. Alternative conservation tillage methods focus on keeping at least 1000 pounds of flat, tiny grain residue equivalent on the soil's surface throughout the critical wind erosion period. Conservation tillage can be broadly mechanized into the following categories that hold a significant difference in soil management.

### **6.2 Reduced tillage**

Targeted and suitable tillage that takes into account the specific needs of the farm is at the center of reduced tillage methods. With reduced tillage, the depth and width of the bed, field, and overall farm are all worked on with a lesser intensity. Due to


#### **Table 2.**

*A comparison between the various tillage systems under conservation tillage.*

their beneficial effects on soil and water conservation [14, 15] and their ability to lower the demand for fuel, equipment, and labor [16], the use of reduced tillage practices is on the rise worldwide [17]. Due to the reduced level of soil disturbance associated with reduced tillage as compared to conventional tillage, there is a limited mixing of plant residues, fertilizers, and other soil amendments into the soil. Consequently, plant roots have a tendency to proliferate primarily in the uppermost few centimeters of the soil. In addition, the uppermost layer typically exhibits higher moisture levels, lower temperatures, reduced oxidation, and increased acidity [18–20]. Under these conditions, it is observed that the organic matter content tends to exhibit a slower rate of increase or decrease in comparison to that under conventional tillage practices. In addition, the adoption of straw mulching and reduced tillage practices has a significant influence on the microenvironment of soil microorganisms, consequently affecting the overall sustainability of the environment [21].

### **6.3 Zero tillage**

When referring to a tillage system, the term "zero tillage" is used to indicate that only traffic and seedbed preparation are performed mechanically on the soil. It is the most extreme kind of minimum tillage, a grouping of tillage systems that includes the plow– plant method and other practices that decrease the amount of soil disturbed during cultivation. Compared to conventional tillage (CT), zero tilling (ZT) causes immediate and substantial alterations to the soil pore network. Long periods of time without disturbing the soil allow biotic and abiotic processes to work together to create a stable soil structure [22]. Plant matter is allowed to remain on the soil's surface under a zero-till system. This is crucial in cases where soil erosion prevents farming from being profitable. The observed proportionate increase in the number of medium to tiny pores generated by zero tillage has implications for the soil's water-holding capacity. The act of plowing grassland results in the redistribution of organic matter, whereas zero-tilled sod retains its original deposit of organic matter in close proximity to the soil surface. Baeumer and Bakermans [23] discovered that water content at pF 2 changed more in association with organic matter content than with soil porosity. As a result, the top 6 cm of the zero-tilled soil had a larger water content at pF 2 than that of the plowed soil.

#### **6.4 Minimum tillage**

The minimum tillage approach is a soil conservation system that shares similarities with strip-till. Its primary objective is to minimize soil manipulation while still achieving successful crop production. No-till farming is a cultivation technique that avoids soil inversion, as opposed to intensive tillage practices that involve the use of plows to alter the soil structure. In the practice of minimum tillage, primary tillage is entirely omitted, and only a limited amount of secondary tillage is employed. The practice of minimum tillage encompasses various techniques, such as minimizing furrowing, employing organic fertilizers, utilizing biological pest control methods, and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. The application of minimum tillage (MT) in combination with organic farming has proven to be effective in promoting the improvement of the biomass of soil microbe. The microbial community structure experiences a shift toward bacteria within organic farming systems. Bacterial populations demonstrate a more prominent reaction to agricultural practices in comparison to other groups of microorganisms. This response is particularly evident when minimum tillage techniques are employed, as they contribute to the improvement

of soil's biological properties. Consequently, these practices indirectly influence the overall health of the soil [24].
