HOW DIRECT SEEDING BENEFITS THE ENVIRONMENT
Direct seeding, or no-till farming, offers producers an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to conventional tillage. As agronomy advances, more people are starting to realize just how harmful traditional crop farming techniques can be. No-till farming doesn’t just improve cropland – it also helps keep our waterways clean while cutting carbon dioxide production and dust pollution.
Direct Seeding Leads to Better Air Quality
No-till farming helps to improve air quality in several ways. When farmers use a direct seeding method, they reduce hourly tractor usage per acre by more than 200 percent. That means less fuel burned and fewer emissions. Tilled cropland also has a much higher decomposition rate, which releases carbon into the atmosphere. With constant plant cover, no-till cropland has the opposite effect. It absorbs more carbon than it releases, helping to offset pollution from cities. Another problem with conventional tilling is that many fields are over-fertilized with nitrates. Over time, the nitrates build up and break down into nitrogen and nitrous oxide – both of these substances easily disperse into the atmosphere. Dust pollution is an issue in many tilled fields. Since the soil is bare for a large part of the year, dry weather can lead to ‘dust bowl’ conditions. No-till fields are more firmly packed, and always have a cover of vegetation that prevents wind erosion.
Direct Seeding Replenishes the Soil
For years, conventional wisdom taught that tilling the previous year’s plant matter into the soil for quick decomposition improved soil quality. We now know that the reverse is true. After decades of tilling, wind erosion has removed much of the valuable top soil that provided such abundant harvests. Direct seeding methods leave the residual crop stubble on the surface, protecting the soil beneath from wind and water erosion. With new layers of organic material building year after year and decomposing slowly, direct seeding offers a chance to build rich loam that requires no fertilization to keep crops healthy. No-till farming also helps build a healthy soil structure. When the soil is healthy, it has better water retention, and it contains a wealth of living organisms that break down organic matter into vital nutrients.
Less Pollution Caused By Runoff
Conventional farming methods pollute water sources by allowing topsoil to wash into streams, lakes, wetlands and ground water – often carrying residual fertilizers and pesticides along with it. In surface water, this causes algal blooms that damage the fragile ecosystem. Fertilizers and pesticides are responsible for levels of nitrates and phosphates that are dangerous to humans and animals. With direct seeding, the year-round plant cover prevents water erosion, while decreased chemical use means fewer chemicals filter into drinking water.