SOIL CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN CROP PRODUCTION

In our region most classical authors held that the primary aim of cultivating soil was to meet crops requirements. In the late 19th century rendering the soil’s fertile layer suitable for crop growing was considered to provide a good standing place for plants. The word suitable usually applied to the soil physical state, its favourably loose structure that was to be developed to the required depth. However, it was recognised by some authors back in the late 1800s already, that creating soil condition assumed to be required by plants may even damage the soil, what with the frequent traffic involved in the process. In other words, taking a crop oriented approach will rather do damage than good. In a regime of tillage focusing on conservation the need for protecting the soil is not subordinated to crops demands. Primarily importance is to create a soil condition required by crops takes a lot less energy and causes much less mechanical damage in a soil whose good structure and condition has been carefully preserved. In the second decade of the new millennium the primary goal of tillage is to create and maintain favourable interaction between soil conservation and cropping. The aim of soil conservation and environmental protection should realise depending on the effectiveness of the EU and national soil conservation endeavours and efforts and its duration should be determined by the extent to which such practices are adopted across the farming community.