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Tilling

Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002 21:00:50 -0800
From: "Jeff Lowenfels" <jeff@gardener.com>
Subject: RE: rototilling
>  ... I suppose, a really Scientific Gardener would work out the math
and conclude that each year, despite the addition of organics into the
soil, there is a net carbon loss. Sooner or later the game is over like
it is in many parts of the world and like it is getting to be in many
parts of the US Then you HAVE to use fertilizers and the only organics
in the soil are those added each year IF there is any soilfoodweb left
to decay them.


Jeff, I'm not sure everyone would agree with the above statements.

The carbon in plants derives primarily from atmospheric CO2, so the
problem of nutrient depletion in a garden is not carbon.

However, Nitrogen depletion can certainly be a problem, especially with
crops such as corn, soy, etc. that require large amounts of N.  For
those crops, grown commercially, synthetic fertilizers are the cheapest
way of adding nitrogen.  The old days of a "well manured" commercial
farm are long gone, except for the limited (but growing) number of
organic/Biodynamic producers.  Spreading manure is just too expensive -
that's why the cow and pig manure piles up, smells, and runs off into
the rivers.  (pardon my rant)

For the home (small scale) gardener, the addition of compost and other
organic ameliorants can and does provide all the nutrient addition that
is needed every year, along with judicious crop rotation.

And - back the the subject - I don't know about harm to the
micro-environment from tilling, but the no-till method is sure easier -
eventually.  Earthworms are the best rototillers in the world.  It just
takes a long time (in my experience) to get them well established,
especially with long-neglected soil, so patience is the primary
ingredient in a no-till garden.

Dan

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