• Excessive Use - Tilling can deplete soils if done excessively, as over-reliance can lead to soil erosion, loss of organic matter and decreased soil fertility, which in turn can contribute to environmental reduced biodiversity and increased carbon emissions.
• Breaking up the soil particles to allow increased aeration can also cause a loss to the existing soil-water content, thus leading to quicker water filtration and evaporation out of the soil. This risk can be reduced by covering the soil with mulch or cover crops which helps to reduce/slow water evaporation rates (see Mulching intervention here for more information).
• Tilling should not be practised too intensively or repeatedly, as this can lead to the depletion of soil microorganisms and soil biodiversity in the long run due to the land being constantly disturbed and not being allowed to naturally regenerate.
• Finally, tilled land is more prone to erosion and surface runoff, particularly when practised frequently. One solution to this problem, especially when a field is heavily irrigated, is to construct sediment basins slightly downstream from the tilled area in order to capture runoff.
• In general, methods employing less frequent and intensive tilling result in higher economic benefits due to lower labour and machinery costs. This can lead to an increased net farm income, although the additional need for pesticides and fertilisers under minimal/conservation tilling methods can reduce these economic gains.

Materials required:

• Safety gear (such as garden gloves)
• A garden hoe to remove rocks and obstructive vegetation in the preparation stage
• String, or other material, to mark your land
• Rake

Additional materials for manual tilling:

• Garden fork or broad fork for loosening the soil
• Long cultivating fork for turning over the soil 

Additional materials for mechanised tilling:

• Rototiller
• Fuel (if using a non-electric tiller)

Steps of implementation

1. 1. Prepare the land: Remove any rocks, and tree and shrub roots, as well as any other unwanted debris that might get in the way of tilling your land. There is a risk that leftover debris could damage your rototiller. Tilling works best when the land is neither too moist nor too dry (thus typically best to do during springtime). 
   2. Mark out the area to be tilled: Using string, or an alternative material, mark out the edges of the rows you want to till.
   3. Loosen the soil: Use a gardening fork to dig into the soil and break up compacted earth by moving the tool back and forth. The aim at this stage is not to turn the soil over, but simply to loosen and aerate it. Note that loosening the soil before turning it over may not be necessary if you are using a mechanised tiller. If reducing disturbance to the soil is a priority, it is advisable to stop at this step.
   4. Turn over and mix the soil
      • If tilling using a manual approach, use a large cultivating (garden) fork to run through the earth and steadily turn over the topsoil, dislodging weeds, breaking up compacted surface soil, and loosening and mixing the soil. If you are using soil amendments, use the rake to remove the uncovered weeds before adding the soil amendments. Then, go over the area a second time with the cultivating fork. 
      • If you are using a mechanised tiller, work the machine along the rows at a steady pace, giving the machine time to work thoroughly through each patch of soil. Till row by row as if you were mowing grass. It is recommended not to go back over already tilled land in order to avoid over-tilling.
        

There are a number of different methods you can use to till your land. Several specialised tools and methods also exist for tilling land. This is the case for both manual and mechanised tilling. Tilling can also be practised at different levels of mechanisation - from implementation using a hand-held tool to a tractor driven-plough. Tilling methods thus also range across different levels of intensity.

Common methods of tilling include:

This intervention contributes to:

The costs and benefits of various tilling methods depend on a large array of factors that are hard to generalize e.g., specific crop rotation, cultivation methods, local climatic and ecological conditions, level of mechanization of the tilling process, and fertilizer and pesticide use. Thus, the examples of costs shown below should not be generalized across all contexts. They aim to provide a rough insight into the costs of certain tilling systems.

Estimation of socioeconomic factors implementation of local conventional tilling practices, minimum tillage, and zero tillage on maize production in the Central province of Zambia

*Only costs of herbicides and not fertilizer is included for the sake of heterogeneity

**Average values over two seasons (2019/20 and 2020/21), (Source).

1. Minimum tillage application in Southern Tanzania 

Description
In Southern Tanzania, the practice of minimum tillage, a key element of conservation farming, is being promoted to address the adverse effects of climate change on agricultural productivity. This study focused on smallholder horticultural farmers and found that factors such as the gender of the household head, asset ownership, training on personal values, drought experience, and support from NGOs and farming organizations significantly influence the adoption of minimum tillage. Male-headed households and those with more resources were more likely to adopt this practice. The findings indicate that minimum tillage leads to higher per capita net crop income and reduces labour demands, allowing farmers to engage in other income-generating activities. Despite these benefits, the adoption of minimum tillage remains low due to a lack of awareness and resources. The success of minimum tillage is context-specific, requiring complementary practices and support to maximize its benefits. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions and better information dissemination to enhance the adoption and impact of minimum tillage on smallholder farmers' welfare in Southern Tanzania.

2. Strip tillage in Bangladesh 

Description
Agricultural machinery, such as the power tiller operated seeder, plays a crucial role in reducing labor, time, and costs for farmers in Bangladesh, particularly in wheat cultivation. Strip tillage, a method where only narrow strips of soil are tilled while the rest remains undisturbed, offers advantages over conventional methods. This study aimed to convert a power tiller seeder for strip tillage and compare its performance with conventional tillage. Results showed that strip tillage improved efficiency, reduced fuel consumption by 20%, and increased field capacity by 25%. It also preserved soil moisture and reduced weed growth. The method was well-received by farmers due to lower costs and time efficiency. Wheat yields in strip tillage were similar to full tillage and higher than conventional methods. The study concluded that strip tillage is a viable alternative, offering better seed placement control, operating in moderate residues, and requiring 20% less seed. Overall, it enhances productivity while reducing operational costs and labor.

External sources

• Economic and ecological benefits of reduced tillage in the UK → Click here
• Comparison of machinery costs in Illinois → Click here