(Not) Digging Up the Dirt: Examining the effects of organic no-till agriculture on compost nutrient availability and crop yields

Abstract

As we seek out more sustainable methods of agriculture, no-till, a method that reduces soil erosion, may be a candidate for best practice. We hypothesized that no-till farms would have higher yields due to better ground nutrient content and soil conditions and that compost nutrients would be better maintained. We tested this with special resins that take up nutrients as a plant would, and measuring yields. The yields on the organic no-till farm were indeed significantly greater than those on the non-organic till farm. Which leads us to conclude, that while further research is necessary, early signs are positive for the sustainability of no-till agriculture.