Background: The benefits provided by no-tillage to predators may lead to larger predator populations, which is a good way to control pests (biological control), but also can facilitate predation of the crop itself. In corn crops, for instance, predation by caterpillars can be higher in no-till than in conventional tillage fields.In places with rigorous winter, untilled soil can take longer to warm and dry in spring, which may delay planting to less ideal dates. Another factor to be considered is that organic residue from the prior year's crops lying on the surface of untilled fields can provide a favorable environment to pathogens, helping to increase the risk of transmitting diseases to the future crop. And because no-till farming provides good environment for pathogens, insects and weeds, it can lead farmers to a more intensive use of chemicals for pest control. Other disadvantages of no-till include underground rot, low soil temperatures and high moisture.Based on the balance of these factors, and because each farm has different problems, agroecologists will not attest that only no-till or complete tillage is the right way of farming. Yet, these are not the only possible choices regarding soil preparation, since there are intermediate practices such as strip-till, mulch-till and ridge-till, all of them – just as no-till – categorized as conservation tillage. Agroecologists, then, will evaluate the need of different practices for the contexts in which each farm is inserted.

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer had more residue from the prior year's crops?
Answer: Todd

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer had less residue from the prior year's crops?
Answer: Jake

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer provided a good environment for pathogens?
Answer: Todd

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't provide a good environment for pathogens?
Answer: Jake

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't provide a good environment for insects?
Answer: Jake

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer provided a good environment for insects?
Answer: Todd

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer provided a good environment for weeds?
Answer: Todd

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't provide a good environment for weeds?
Answer: Jake

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer used more chemicals for pest control?
Answer: Todd

Situation: Jake and Todd used different farming methods to produce their crops. Jake always tills his land, while Todd uses he no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer used fewer chemicals for pest control?
Answer: Jake

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer caused larger predator populations?
Answer: Barb

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't cause larger predator populations?
Answer: Jill

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't cause the predation of the crop itself?
Answer: Jill

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer caused the predation of the crop itself?
Answer: Barb

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer had soil that took longer to warm in spring?
Answer: Barb

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't have soil that took longer to warm in spring?
Answer: Jill

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't have soil that took longer to dry in spring?
Answer: Jill

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer had soil that took longer to dry in spring?
Answer: Barb

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer had soil which may delay planting to less ideal dates?
Answer: Barb

Situation: Barb and Jill practiced small scale farming. Jill farmed the conventional way, while barb used the no-tillage method.

Question: Which farmer didn't have soil which may delay planting to less ideal dates?
Answer: Jill

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer caused an increase in the predator populations?
Answer: Brad

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer didn't cause an increase in the predator populations?
Answer: Tom

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had a soil that took longer to warm in spring?
Answer: Brad

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had a soil that took less to warm in spring?
Answer: Tom

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had a soil that took less to dry in spring?
Answer: Tom

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had a soil that took longer to dry in spring?
Answer: Brad

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had delayed planting dates?
Answer: Brad

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had didn't have delayed planting dates?
Answer: Tom

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had a more favorable environment to pathogens?
Answer: Brad

Situation: Two farmers, Tom and Brad, applied different farming methods. Tom tilled his land, while Brad applied the no-till gardening method.

Question: Which farmer had a less favorable environment to pathogens?
Answer: Tom

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener increased predator population?
Answer: Joe

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener didn't increase predator population?
Answer: Kat

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener facilitated predation of the crop itself?
Answer: Joe

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener didn't facilitate predation of the crop itself?
Answer: Kat

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener had a soil that takes longer to warm in spring?
Answer: Joe

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener had a soil that doesn't take long to dry in spring?
Answer: Kat

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener had a soil that takes longer to dry in spring?
Answer: Joe

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener had a soil that doesn't take long to warm in spring?
Answer: Kat

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener had plants with more underground rot?
Answer: Joe

Situation: Kat and Joe were into vegetable gardening. Joe started the no-till gardening method, while Kat applied conventional gardening methods.

Question: Which gardener had plants with less underground rot?
Answer: Kat