Research via Penn State

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University explored the soil health implications of strategic tillage as part of an integrated weed management strategy. Although no-till systems can be beneficial for soil health, relying on herbicides for weed control can result in development of resistant weeds over time. This research on dairy farms indicated that strategic tillage once in five years within a multi-year crop rotation that includes perennial forages resulted in small setbacks to soil health that recovered after two years. At the same time, the strategic tillage offered the benefits of reducing pesticide use, breaking pest cycles, distributing phosphorus collected on the soil surface, and providing an opportunity to add soil amendments. READ MORe