Feasibility of Minimum Tillage Practices for Annual Cropping Systems in France

Mouldboard ploughing is followed by one to five shallow cultivations depending on several factors such as initial and expected soil structure, weather conditions, and machines used. As economic conditions change and many new tillage techniques become available, such as direct drilling and shallow cultivation, farmers are being encouraged to consider tillage techniques that have low investment, low power consumption, and reduced labor or time. Crop systems are largely influenced by soils and climates, but also depend on many other factors. Crops cultivated on a large scale cover large areas from the north to the south of France, especially in the oceanic climatic zone. ploughing is the conventional tillage system for crop establishment in France. The approach to reduce or simplify tillage can involve a reduction in tillage events and minimum use of the moldboard plough, or a complete removal of plough and use of minimum tillage, or direct drilling.