CONSERVATION TILLAGE can cut soil erosion, water run-off and establishment costs, initial findings from the Soil and Water Protection project confirm.

Across two UK SOWAP sites, erosion was reduced by 22% and run-off by 13%, compared with conventionally tilled plots. Costs were much less, with direct drilling at 37/ha (15/acre) against ploughing at 108.50/ha (44/acre).

But less tillage can trim output, the work suggests. Although oilseed rape yields at the Somerset site were about 5t/ha (2t/acre) regardless of management, those of winter wheat in Leics were 7.5t/ha (3t/acre) with direct drilling, 8.1t/ha (3.3t/acre) from minimum tillage, and 8.5t/ha (3.4t/acre) under plough-based systems.