Benefits of no-till agriculture in the country

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erayman, Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies of Cyprus International University (CIU) stated that planting stubble seeds with special sowing machines has become widely used in recent years, and that this method not only saves fuel and labor but also minimizes water loss from the soil.

Erayman said that water challenges are expected to strongly impact agriculture – a highly water-dependent sector adding, “Dry farming is widely practiced in our region. We experience great productivity losses during periods of low rainfall." 

Drawing attention to the problems caused by insufficient water in the country, Erayman noted that the process of planting different plants one after the other, known as crop rotation, can therefore be carried out on a limited basis.

Erayman stated that no-till agriculture increases soil water and soil fertility at the same time, and added that frequent tillage destroys the soil structure and reduces organic matter. Underlining that this situation increases the effect of soil salinity, Erayman shared the information, "hence, there are losses in productivity and quality."

Pointing out that one of the most important disadvantages of tillage is the fight against weeds, Erayman said, “However, only broad-leaf weeds can be controlled with herbicides (drugs that kill weeds) in planting barley to be used as a cleaning crop for many weeds. This will help  increase grass yield."

Erayman stated that annual legume species such as vetch (vigo), annual sainfoin and forage pea which will further increase the fertility of the soil, can be planted in rotation by increasing the water and fertility in the soil and said, "In this way, it will be possible to get more grass yield from the area at a less cost."

Stating that another important disadvantage of no-till agriculture is the provision of seeder (seed planting machine) tools and equipment that can plant stubble, Erayman said, “Although these equipment are expensive, they will pay off in a short time, especially with the increase in fuel prices. Of course, providing support to our farmers for the purchase of such agricultural tools and machines will make no-till agriculture more widespread which is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production method.”

Erayman stated that, as the CIU Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, they want to lead the farmers develop their practices and their involvement in more efficient agricultural work, and noted that as the Faculty, they can provide the necessary information to support the farmers on these and other similar issues.