This system reduces soil erosion, improves water infiltration, increases soil organic matter and holds carbon in topsoil, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere. The Domestic Carbon Conservation Incentive Act provides national criteria and financial incentives for carbon storage practices in the United States.
Every tillage stirs oxygen into the soil and results in the oxidation of organic matter.
This oxidizes and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where it contributes to global warming. The crop residue on the soil surface also reduces soil erosion because it increases the organic matter levels in the soil, and provides a foundation for cleaner water. Plus, continuous no-till can increase organic matter in the top two inches of soil by about 0.1 percent each year. Conservation tillage is a winning practice, says Alesii. Though the benefits of conservation tillage are well documented, many farmers hesitate to change their practices.