No-till seeding
Virkar Group
From the soil to the future of farming
Soil is a non-renewable natural resource, which means that its loss and degradation are not reversible on a human timescale.
Each hectare is a living organism, rich in nutrients and biodiversity, capable of supporting crops, retaining water and storing carbon.
Without healthy soils, there is no future for farming or food production.
Soil fertility
Soil fertility can be increased through the following practices:
- Crop rotation
- No-till seeding
- Soil cover with plant residues
Soil erosion
Soil erosion can be caused by water or wind:
- Rain can erode the soil if it hits it without soil cover on the surface.
- When the soil is very dry during periods of drought, wind can carry away particles, eroding the soil.
Soil composition
Macronutrients
(N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S)
Micronutrients
(Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni)
The current challenges in agriculture
Traditional agriculture is undergoing a moment of profound change.
- Agriculture is responsible for 30% of total carbon emissions, 70% of freshwater use and 60% of biodiversity loss.
- Between 60-70% of EU soils are in poor condition.
- Every year, thousands of hectares of agricultural land are lost due to urbanisation and soil degradation.
- Extreme weather conditions intensify the loss of productivity.
This makes it necessary to commit to agricultural practices that protect and regenerate the land, such as no-till seeding.
What is no-till seeding?
No-till seeding is an agronomic practice within Conservation Agriculture that allows crops to be sown without the need to till the soil. Instead of disturbing the soil, it is kept covered with plant residues from previous crops, protecting it throughout the year against erosion and nutrient loss.
This technique requires special seed drills capable of opening furrows in the soil and placing the seeds at the correct depth while preserving the plant residues on the soil surface.
At Virkar, we are committed to this way of working the land, where innovation and respect for the environment go hand in hand.
What are its main advantages?
Water savings
Moisture is conserved thanks to the plant cover, reducing runoff and allowing water infiltration.
Living soil
More organic matter, grater biodiversity, and improved natural soil fertility.
Erosion reduction
Soil cover protects against wind and heavy rainfall.
Time savings
No-till seeding is faster, reducing the number of working hours required.
Carbon requestration
Soil under no-till seeding sequesters atmospheric COâ‚‚.
Fuel reduction
Fuel is saved by reducing or eliminating soil cultivation operations.
What should the ideal seedbed be like?
All seedbeds need water, air, heat and to be free from diseases. Therefore, the ideal seedbed should:
- Absorb rainfall and resist erosion. It should also act as a barrier against evaporation, maintaining the moisture required for germination.
- Allow oxygen to filter through in order to activate the enzymatic processes of germination.
- Have an average temperature of around 20ºC so that seeds germinate better and faster.
- Use crop rotation to avoid phytosanitary problems and ensure healthy soil.
Why is crop rotation important?
Crop rotation helps maintain soil nutrients naturally, without artificial products.
- It improves soil structure.
- It increases soil fertility.
- It breaks the cycle of pests and diseases.
Why are cover crops essential?
Cover crops are essential because they protect the soil between two main crops. They are not sown for sale purposes, but for the benefits they provide:
- They protect the soil by preventing erosion caused by wind and rainfall.
- They improves soil structure and fertility by adding carbon and nutrients.
- Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen and enrich the soil naturally.
- They control weeds.
- They reduce evaporation and improve water infiltration.
- They promote soil biodiversity.
Debunking myths about no-till seeding
No-till seeding does no eliminate weed control, it transforms it. Instead of relying on tillage to destroy weeds, it is based on a smarter system management approach: crop rotations, cover crops, and proper crop residue management.
Over time, a covered soil with good plant competition reduces weed emergence, as less light is available for germination and greater stability is maintained on the soil surface.
Soil compaction does not depend solely on whether the soil is tilled or not, but also on machinery traffic, soil moisture, equipment weight, and soil structure. In well-managed no-till seeding systems, living roots, biological activity, and organic matter help create natural pores that improve water infiltration and aeration.
In addition, by avoiding frequent tillage, the destruction of the soil’s natural structure is reduced. The roots of crops and cover crops act as a network that stabilizes the soil profile and promotes microbial life.
Well-managed no-till seeding can help build a more structured, more biologically active, and more resilient soil.
No-till seeding can be adapted to many types of soil, but it is not applied in the same way in every case. Each area requires a different strategy depending on the climate, moisture, crop type, amount of crop residue, and available machinery.
In countries with highly diverse conditions, such as Argentina, no-till seeding is successfully used on millions of hectares. The key is to adapt the system: choosing the right crop rotation, managing residues, adjusting seeding pressure, and using seeding units capable of working properly on crop residues.
During the transition to no-till seeding, some fields may need an adaptation period. The soil changes, biological activity increases, and its structure becomes more stable. During this initial phase, results may vary, especially if the system is not supported by good crop rotation and proper nutrient and crop residue management.
In the medium and long term, no-till seeding improves fertility, better preserves moisture, reduces erosion, and increases crop resilience against droughts or heavy rainfall. This makes it possible to achieve more stable and higher yields over the long term.
Everything you need to know about no-till seeding
What is the difference between no-till seeding, minimum tillage, and conventional tillage?
The main difference lies in the level of soil disturbance.
- In no-till seeding, the soil is not worked across the entire field. Only the furrow needed to place the seed is opened.
- In minimum tillage, the number or intensity of tillage operations is reduced, but the soil is still partially worked.
- In conventional tillage, the soil is disturbed more intensively using a plough, harrow, or other tillage operations, leaving the soil without soil cover.
No-till seeding aims to keep the soil better protected, conserve moisture, and reduce the loss of soil structure, while conventional tillage provides more visible soil preparation but can increase erosion, organic matter loss, and long-term compaction.
Is any soil suitable for no-till seeding?
Most soils can adapt to no-till seeding, but not all respond at the same pace. Success depends on factors such as soil structure, compaction level, drainage, residue presence, crop rotation, and weed management.
Highly compacted soils, soils with serious water-logging problems, or soils with low biological activity may require a correction phase before fully transitioning to no-till seeding.
How should I prepare for the transition to no-till seeding?
The transition to no-till seeding must be planned. Before starting, it is advisable to assess the physical condition of the soil, identify possible compaction, improve crop rotation, and manage residues correctly.
The transition should not be approached as a one-off action, but as a process of progressive adaptation of the soil, machinery, and agronomic strategy.
Why is crop rotation essential in no-till seeding?
Crop rotation is essential in no-till seeding because it helps keep the soil alive, balanced, and productive over the long term.
Each crop extracts specific nutrients from the soil. If the same species is always repeated, the soil gradually becomes depleted and dependence on external fertilizers increases. In contrast, alternating different crops allows nutrients to be restored more naturally, improves soil fertility, and reduces the need for chemical inputs.
In addition, crop rotation breaks the cycles of pests, diseases, and weeds. In a monoculture, pests always find the same food source and can develop easily. By introducing different crops, their spread is hindered and more balanced field management is promoted.
Which crop rotations work best?
There is no single rotation that is valid for every situation. The rotations that work best are diversified and balanced ones, meaning those that alternate crops with different characteristics and avoid repeating the same crop in the same plot for several years.
Ideally, crops should be combined in a way that complements each other:
- After crops that consume a lot of nitrogen, introduce crops that accumulate it or are less demanding.
- After crops that reduce humus, sow others that contribute organic matter.
- If a crop leaves the soil compacted, alternate it with another that helps improve its structure.
- Combine shallow-rooted crops with deep-rooted ones.
Alternating cereals, legumes, and oilseed crops can help improve fertility, control weeds, and reduce disease and pest problems.
What are cover crops and what are they used for?
Cover crops are plants sown mainly to protect and improve the soil, not necessarily to be harvested or sold as a main crop. Their function is to cover the ground between crops, keep the soil alive, and provide agronomic benefits to the system.
They help reduce erosion, regulate soil moisture, improve water infiltration, add organic matter, and promote biological activity. They can also contribute to the control of weeds, pests, and diseases, and attract pollinating insects. Depending on the species used, some cover crops can fix nitrogen, such as legumes, while others help capture nutrients and prevent losses.
What seeding depth should I use?
There are several factors that influence seeding depth. It will depend on the crop type and seed size, climatic conditions, soil moisture, and the machinery used.
As a general rule, the ideal depth is 2 to 3 times the thickness of the seed. Therefore, small seeds, such as lettuce, are sown almost on the surface, while large seeds, such as pumpkin, need more soil above them to retain moisture.
Excessive depth can delay emergence and weaken the plant. Conversely, sowing too shallow can leave the seed exposed to lack of moisture, birds, or poor coverage.