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Photo: SuperAgronom.com
Although no-till farming is gaining traction, not all Polish farmers are succumbing to these trends. For instance, the Rutkowski farming family has no intention of abandoning plowing. This isn’t because the family distrusts new technologies. On the contrary. They have been using them for years, but they view them as tools designed for specific field conditions, reports Farmer.pl.
The farm is located in the Żuławy region, a low-lying area in northern Poland. And while a no-till farming system allows for fewer passes, improves soil structure, and better moisture management, Zbigniew Rutkowski notes that no single technology is suitable for every farm.
“We are not against no-till farming. We use it where it is justified. However, in Żuławy, there are situations where plowing is still the best solution,” he explains.
The farm utilizes both technologies. In some seasons, up to half of the area is cultivated without a traditional plow. However, the method employed is determined by field conditions, not preconceived notions.
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The biggest challenge for no-till farming in Żuławy is the heavy soils and variable weather conditions. Rutkowski’s farm has soils ranging from Class I to VI. Especially on the heavier plots, after a wet autumn, leaving the soil uncultivated can cause more problems than benefits.
“In the heavy soils of Żuławy, especially after a wet autumn, it is often necessary to invert and aerate the soil. Otherwise, rotting can easily occur,” explains Mr. Zbigniew.
Therefore, the farmer does not consider the plow a relic of the past. In his opinion, it is still a tool that, under certain conditions, best prepares the field for the next harvest. However, this does not mean that the Rutkowskis exclusively stuck to traditional plowing.
No-till cultivation technology has also been practiced on this farm for years, but as Zbigniew Rutkowski emphasizes, it requires appropriate conditions and the right equipment.
“No-till farming gives us good results, but only when conditions allow. The soil must be properly loosened and well-mixed. There is no room for arbitrary equipment selection here; a disc harrow, a cultivator, or a tine cultivator will not suffice. These devices are well-suited for soil processing or for less demanding soils. An effective no-till farming requires a good chisel plow,” he stresses.
In practice, the two systems complement each other rather than compete.
After extremely wet seasons, as well as during successive grain crops, the traditional plow allows for incorporating crop residues, aerating the soil, and creating better phytosanitary conditions for subsequent crops. Where conditions are more favorable, for sowing cereals after beets or rapeseed, no-till technology is successfully employed.
Alla Husarova, SuperAgronom.com
Read also: Plowing is already “losing” in Kirovohrad Oblast: farmers are gradually changing their approaches to soil cultivation technologies
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