Zero tillage is an effective method for resource conservation agriculture

Keeping in view the declining ground water levels, deteriorating quality of soil, the matter of concern for the sustainability of the rice-wheat system being practiced by the farmers in northern India, it is the need of the time to adopt resource conservation technologies especially zero tillage, for sowing of wheat. In zero tillage, crops are planted with minimum disturbance of soil by placing the seeds in a narrow slit 3–4 cm wide and 4–7 cm deep without land preparation. Zero tillage allows early and timely sowing of wheat crop and reduces the cost of production through less use of fossil, herbicides, water for irrigation etc. Retention of residues has helped in reducing the pollution due to burning of paddy straw and improving the soil structure and its fertility status.The zero tillage has shown tremendous potential for improving soil quality and sustaining its fertility by increasing carbon sequestration and decreasing net emission of carbon dioxide. In totality, Zero tillage technology has contributed in checking the degradation of natural resources i.e. land and water. Organic matter depletion can be slowed and reversed through reductions in tillage operation.