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Big Darby Creek Watershed Ohio Homepage Darby Homepage Darby History Darby Ecosystems Darby Community Contact Us Ways of Giving |
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Conservation Tillage
 Almost one-half of the farmers within the Darby watershed now use some level of "no-till". © TNC |
Conservation tillage entails leaving the field alone after harvest - the farmer does not till (or churn up) the soil which allows plant residue to remain on the surface. The plant residue retains water on the soil surface rather than allowing it to run off and cause erosion. This is not only an advantageous practice for the farmer but is also environmentally and economically friendly.
Erosion occurring on corn and soybean fields in the Darby watershed is most severe at times when the ground is bare of vegetation or crop residue. This condition is commonly encountered on fields that have been fall plowed or when tillage has reduced residue amounts to less than 30%.
Through partnership, cost incentives, information exchange, and adhering to the principle that it is possible to use conservation practices which can ultimately contribute to an farmer’s economic bottom-line, good progress has been made in the reduction of the threats to the streams from agricultural sources. Almost one-half of the farmers in the watershed now use some level of “no-till.” Filter strips and grassed waterways are being installed, and land is coming out of production and being returned to trees and grasses. In addition, the amount of livestock in the stream is being reduced.
