This publication was designed to inspire producers considering moving to a conservation tillage system.
Years of research have shown that conservation tillage systems:

• can significantly reduce overall energy inputs
• produce comparable yields to conventional tillage systems
• increase the water-holding capacity of the soil, thus reducing plant water stress
• create better harvesting conditions when the soil is saturated
• reduce nutrient loss by reducing runoff and increasing organic matter
• reduce the off-site movement of pesticides
• maintain a healthy environment for macro- and microorganisms
• reduce erosion, thus maintain fertility and productivity of the land for future generations.

For additional information about conservation tillage please contact Boyd Padgett and Chris Coreil.

Please click on the links located  below to navigate the Louisiana Conservation Tillage site. Introduction Robert L. Hutchinson Chapter 1 - Crop Rotations Donald J. Boquet Chapter 2 - Winter Cover Crops Donald J. Boquet Chapter 3 - Variety Selection and Seedling Rates Donald J. Boquet Chapter 4 - Fertilizer and Liming John S. Kruse Chapter 5 - Arthropod Pest Management B. Rogers Leonard Chapter 6 - Weed Management Daniel O. Stephenson, IV Chapter 7 - Disease Management Boyd Padgett Chapter 8 - Equipment (Adapted from the Penn State University Publication: Steps Toward a Successful Transition to No-Till) Chapter 9 - Final Thoughts Boyd Padgett and Chris Coreil Web Links Contributing Authors Conservation Tillage was prepared in cooperation with and through funding provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the LSU AgCenter's Louisiana Master Farmer Program.