To till or not to till in a temperate ecosystem? Implications for climate change mitigation

Cooper et al., 2021

This 2021 academic study draws a direct link between no-tillage farming practices in a temperate ecosystem and climate change mitigation. It tests and verifies hypotheses linking the adoption of no-till farming to increased carbon sequestration, improved soil quality, a decrease in soil erosion and increased water infiltration. Although it is based on data collected from 31 farms not involved with viticulture – they are all located in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom – it nonetheless provides substantial evidence supporting no-till farming as best practice in a temperate climate.

Ultimately, the study helps respond to the question of “why?” when looking into the adoption of no-till agriculture.