Mulch sowing in organic agriculture

Author: Matthias Klaiss

Problem: Ploughing provides many advantages, such as weed control and enhanced mineralization of nutrients, but can also cause negative effects, especially when water or nutrients are restricted. Specifically, ploughing destroys the soil aggregate and capillary structure, increases the mineralisation of soil organic matter and causes soil compaction, all impacting soil health and functions. It also decreases load bearing capacity and may negatively influence water, gas and nutrient cycles.

Solution: Mulch sowing is a method of reduced soil tillage, based on sowing a main crop into the crop residues of the previous crop or catch crop. The soil is loosened, but not turned, and only an upper, shallow layer is mixed thoroughly.

zenodo.org: Mulch sowing in organic agriculture