Although the practice of continuous care with the garden is not new, the information usually focuses on agricultural crops. Today, amateur gardeners are involved in this matter.
"The no-till concept has been around for decades, but research has focused primarily on crops grown in the Midwest, such as wheat and corn," says Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist Erica Chernoh. "There's not much to grow vegetables or fruit, there's a lot to learn and research to do."
No-till farming reduces soil disturbance, which compacts the soil and destroys air and water transport pathways in the soil, Chernoh said. Every time a hole is dug into the ground, the structure weakens, which can cause compaction and increased water leakage. Overworking also leads to rust and surface peeling, says Chernoh.
In addition to disrupting the soil structure, he said, soil erosion destroys the microbes and other soil inhabitants that are important for maintaining the health of the soil and plants living in the topsoil. Soil microbes, some of which have symbiotic relationships with plants, congregate around the roots and feed on organic matter and plants and materials that act as glues to bind soil particles into larger aggregates. Maintaining soil fertility. Long chains of open fungal hyphae can bind them together, and earthworms and other large organisms form pores.
Weed seeds, some of which have lain dormant in the soil for years, emerge under the soil blade, then germinate and become a problem. A large part of no-till gardening involves protecting the soil with mulch, keeping seeds in place, and removing emerging weeds.
There are downsides to not working, Chernoh says. Covering the soil makes it difficult to put seeds in the bed, especially for gardeners who do not have large seeds. Mulch allows the soil to warm up as quickly as an uncut bed in the spring. But he says the benefits outweigh these drawbacks.
"Mechanized cultivation has its place, especially to create new beds with high volume and low organic matter," he said. "However, in most cases, non-mechanized tillage methods will help you achieve your goals without a negative impact on your soil."
Soil cover is an important concept in no-till farming systems. For indoor gardeners, this can be done using cover crops or mulch. Mulch materials can be straw, compost, animal manure, dried leaves or grass clippings. The soil prevents soil erosion from rain and wind. In early spring, the mold layer can be removed from the bed to allow the sunlight to warm the soil.
The ultimate gardening method is often called pot mulch or lasagna gardening and includes organic matter to create a healthy growing medium. This is a system where organic materials that are usually sent to landfills are used to create a garden bed.
Cover crops are an important part of no-till farming, but can be difficult for home gardeners because many crops must be sprayed with herbicides to finish the harvest, he said. If using a winter crop, gardeners plant in early fall and cut back in spring after flowering, but before the plant sets seed and becomes a weed. You can sow seeds or make a thin layer of crop compost.
When using cover crops, be sure to choose crops that can be killed by frost or mowing rather than farming or herbicides. Cover crops such as Austrian winter peas, red clover, or broad beans are great options for home gardeners who use almost no methods.
When cleaning the garden at the end of summer, gardeners can cut the tops of cover plants and leave the roots in the soil. There will be little disturbance and the roots will rot and provide food for microorganisms. The pieces can be used as compost
"A lot of people make lasagna-style beds," Chernoh said. "Also, you can build one in your garden. It is not easier to create a beautiful garden bed than to change the soil for new seeds every year."
Here's how to make the lasagna topping, also called topping:
- It is available in all winters to begin to decompose the bed from autumn.
- Cut the grass as small as possible or start a lasagna garden in the old garden bed.
- Loosen the soil with a digging fork to increase the air. Digging holes in the ground also works.
- Weed removal.
- Create a raised bed or simply incorporate organic materials to create a frameless bed.
- Place a layer of cardboard and water, one or two inches thick.
- A 2-inch layer of green organic matter such as grass clippings, fresh plant debris, animal manure, and nitrogen-giving food scraps and brown materials such as dry leaves, wood chips, straw, and shredded newspaper provide carbon. Repeat the layers until the bed is about 18 inches long.
- Top with 2 to 6 inches of brown cover. Dense if you want to plant immediately.
- Make the beds wide enough to reach the center and fill the paths with straw to prevent soil compaction.
- As the material rots, lasagna layers shrink and may require new layers each year.
- The plants are easy to use in the garden; Mulch is easier than direct planting, especially for small-seeded crops like lettuce and broccoli. To plant, use a shovel or other tool to create a hole big enough for the plant. If you sow directly into the bed, remove the substrate before sowing and smooth the substrate layer with a rake.
Additional Information: For more information, see Method 3: Freeze Cold Fertilization.
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