Q. What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture?

  1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of the previous crop
  2. Without the need for the nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
  3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • 1 and 2 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Notes:

  • Tillage is an agricultural land preparation through mechanical agitation which includes digging, stirring, and overturning.
  • Zero-till farming is a way of growing wheat crops without tillage or disturbing the soil in harvested fields.
    • Zero tillage (ZT) also called No-Tillage or Nil Tillage.
  • Happy Seeder is one of the unique techniques which is used for sowing seed without any burning of crop residue.
  • Zero tillage not only reduces the cost of cultivation it also reduces soil erosion, crop duration, and irrigation requirement, and weed effect which is better than tillage.
  • Direct Seeded Rice Zero-Tillage (DSR) is an alternative crop establishment method for rice. Where seeds are sown directly without raising them in a nursery and can be done in zero-tillage conditions. 
  • Adopting no-tillage before cultivation has been widely recommended as a means of enhancing carbon sequestration in soils.
  • If crops are not burnt and the land is prepared through mechanical agitation, carbon sequestration remains possible.​