Comparing the profitability of tillage methods in Northeast Germany—A field trial from 2002 to 2005

Modern no-tillage techniques are being practiced worldwide on more than 100 million hectares of land. Despite proven advantages, reduced tillage (RT) is used only on 25% of agricultural land in Germany and direct seeding (DS) is not at all practised. Therefore, a trial was performed at the Leibniz Centre for Landscape Research (ZALF e. V.) from 2002 to 2005 to compare conventional tillage (CT), RT and DS practices in the following crop rotation: winter rape (Brassica napus L.) – winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – maize (Zea mays L.) – winter wheat – winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (in DS: winter wheat). The study was aimed at determining the profitability (net return) of these methods under on farm conditions.The application of RT proved to be the most competitive system with the highest net return of 111 euro ha−1 recorded at the midpoint of the 4-year trial period. The system of CT in contrast produced −7 euro ha−1 at the midpoint of this trial period, yielding the poorest results. Problems with the establishment of rape and wheat in soil with wheat straw residues in the DS system resulted in high losses in individual cases, so that the profit for DS at the midpoint period was at 55 euros ha−1. The expanded use of reduced-tillage practices would therefore improve the profitability of crop production in Northeast Germany. The introduction of DS systems would, however, require the modification of common crop rotations and the employment of an appropriate seeding technology.