Search for Sustainability in Dryland Agriculture

This book is for those who would like to know where no-till has been, where it is going and how to do it on your farm. Whether you are a newcomer to no-till or an experienced practitioner this book has something for you.

Bill Crabtree has been researching and extending no-tillage for 25 years and is well respected for his work throughout Australia and the world.

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Outline of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: The search for sustainable agriculture

Chapter 2: Background to Australian agriculture

2.1 Australia is 80% desert

2.2 Western Australian agriculture is young

Chapter 3: Definitions – what is no-till?

Chapter 4: Adoption of no-till in WA and Australia

4.1 No-till adoption patterns in WA

4.2 No-till uptake in other states

4.3 Knife points take no-till forward in WA

4.4 World-wide adoption of no-till

Chapter 5: Overview of benefits of no-till

5.1 Improved farm management efficiencies

5.2 Fewer banks and drains and more up and back

5.3 Earthworms become profoundly active

Chapter 6: Weed control is superior with no-till

6.1 Discs best in some environments for weeds

6.2 Increasing herbicide resistance weeds

makes farmers embrace no-till

6.3 Trifluralin and no-till – go together like a hand in a glove!

6.4 Trifluralin still works in stubble and on the seed

6.5 Harrows encourage ryegrass to germinate

6.6 Complement with soluble herbicides

6.7 Soluble herbicides put to the test!

6.8 No-till made ryegrass control more achievable

6.9 Changing weed populations

6.10 South American weed suppression

6.11 Low dose rates speed resistance

Chapter 7: Time of sowing

7.1 Earlier sowing means better yields

7.2 Tillage dries the soil

7.3 Time is not wasted

7.4 Moisture is conserved

7.5 No-till seeders penetrate dry soils

7.6 Soils soften through time

7.7 More even paddock soil moisture

7.8 Surface sealing rarely occurs

Chapter 8: Better plant–water relations

8.1 The furrow harvesting effect

8.2 Ground cover limits moisture loss

8.3 More efficient fertiliser in bands

8.4 Slower early growth

8.5 Less early tillering

8.6 Softer subsoil with no-till

Chapter 9: Greater biological activity

9.1 Softer soil

9.2 Increased earthworms indicate more biological activity

9.3 Free Nitrogen from soil bacteria

9.4 Arbuscular mycorrhizea (AM)

9.5 Negative biological activity

9.6 Suppressive soils

Chapter 10: Increased macro soil biology

10.1 No-tilled soil is biologically different!

10.2 Immigratory pests ‘r’

10.3 Steady state ‘K’ effect

10.4 Monitoring is useful and educational

10.5 Use precision insecticide placement

10.6 Slugs and snails

10.7 Understanding biological systems

Chapter 11: Type of openers

11.1 Buffalo #1 and #2

11.2 Disc openers

11.3 Knife openers

11.4 Closer tools with knife openers

11.5 Depth of opener

11.6 Dedicated banding seeders

11.7 Leading coulters

Chapter 12: Seeder set-up for stubble management

12.1 Modifying existing seeders

12.2 Residue managers

12.3 Shape of tine and trash tubes

Chapter 13: Press wheels and harrows

13.1 Firming the seed zone

13.2 Loose soil over the firmed seed

13.3 Shape of press wheel

13.4 Downward pressure of press wheels

13.5 Internal pressure of press wheels

Chapter 14: Fertiliser systems and issuesd.

14.1 Topdressing fertiliser

14.2 Apply softer forms of fertiliser

14.3 More liquid fertilisers

14.4 Banding fertilisers

14.5 Ca:Mg ratios

14.6 Lime movement and no-tillage

Chapter 15: Rotations and cover crops

15.1 Crop diversity and sustainability

15.2 Water use intensity

15.3 Cover crops and sustainability in South America.

15.4 Cover crops for Australian agriculture

Chapter 16: Some challenges with no-till

16.1 Slugs, snails, mites, grubs, mice, weevils, beetles and grubs

16.2 Root lesion nematodes

16.3 The trace elements

16.4 Getting through stubble

16.5 Water-logging

16.6 Frost management

Chapter 17: The herbicide resistance issue

17.1 Herbicide resistance becomes common

17.2 Herbicide resistance in US and Argentina

17.3 Herbicide resistance in Canada and Brasil

17.4 Managing resistance with shielded spraying

Chapter 18: When might a full tillage be unavoidable?

18.1 Rough paddocks

18.2 Water repellent sands need tillage and clay

18.3 Naturally occurring soils with severe acidity

Chapter 19: Salinity in Western Australia

19.1 Result of removing perennials

19.2 Greater water use needed

19.3 Deep drains

Chapter 20: Stock and their fit with no-tillage

20.1 Sheep and light soil

20.2 Sheep and heavy soil.

20.3 Sheep remove soil cover

Chapter 21: Economics of no-tillage.

21.1 Short-term economic paddock comparison

21.2 Long-term economic benefits

Chapter 22: Where to next?

22.1 Controlled traffic

22.2 Variable rate agriculture

22.3 GPS guidance

22.4 Wide row technology and shields

22.5 GM crops

Chapter 23: No-till on the prairies with Scott Day

23.1 The climate in brief

23.2 The soils in brief

23.3 Wildlife on the farm

23.4 Hogs complemented grain for 45 years

23.5 Weed concern with no-till

23.6 An organic experience

23.7 Sustainable agriculture requires no-till

23.8 Drawbacks to no-till

23.9 Evolving no-till system

23.10 Hoe openers predominate

23.11 Harvest is a priority

23.12 The herbicide tolerant and GM canola systems

23.13 Herbicide resistant weeds

23.14 Rotational diversity is important

23.15 Conclusion

Chapter 24: No-till in Southern Brasil with Ademir Calegari

Chapter 25: No-till in Europe with Wolfgang Sturney

Chapter 26: Impact of Australia rejecting GM canola

26.2 GM canola trial data

26.3 Problems with TT canola

26.4 Economic assumptions

26.5 Dry wheatbelt needs crop diversity

26.6 Some real GM concerns

Chapter 27: How did I get into no-tillage?

Chapter 28: Crabtree publications

Cost

AUD $50 + GST (AUD $55)
plus postage and packaging.

Postage within Australia AUD $10
Postage outside Australia US $15

Peer Reviews

'In the early days, many people associated with no-till, be it farmers, researchers or extension advisors, would hit a problem and conclude "no-till doesn't work" or "doesn't work here". However, it was very refreshing to experience the steely determination of ‘No-till Bill’, who had the attitude of "Well, what is wrong with the system, and how can we get around it to make no-till work better? " Having been involved in many robust group discussions with Bill, I have appreciated his in-depth technical knowledge and widespread hands-on experience, his ability to think outside the square and to take on new challenges to find honest answers. Bill has played an important role as South Australian farmers followed the lead of Western Australian no-till farmers, speaking at fi eld days, providing key information, hosting tours to WA, and generally lifting our vision as to what was possible. I have appreciated his enthusiasm, his humour, and even his musical ability as we have performed songs together about no-till at fi eld days. I'm sure this book will see many no-till enthusiasts studying the information, looking for that gem that might just make things click into place for them—and they won't be disappointed. Bill, you're an ornament to the game!'

Chris McDonough
Department of Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia (PIRSA)

'Bill has produced and written a book I couldn't put down. Farmers, consultants and lovers of the land will fi nd this book a ‘must have’ in their pursuit of sustainable food production via no-till farming. Bill writes in his wonderful punchy manner of getting straight to the point and covers the remarkable history of no-till adoption and adoption around the world and how it was almost always farmer-lead, not researcher-lead. No-till has been a saviour for so many areas of the agricultural world and this book is an excellent tool in spreading this superior method of farming. It is a great read for anyone wanting to get into no-till farming.'

Wayne Smith
Independent Agronomist and fellow no-till pioneer. www.agronomy.com.au

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