Final answer:
Strip tillage involves tilling narrow strips where seeds are planted, leaving the rest of the soil undisturbed, to improve soil health and reduce environmental impact. It helps to reduce soil compaction, protect soil organisms, and cut costs, while also preventing erosion and aiding in carbon sequestration as part of sustainable farming practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Strip tillage involves tilling only narrow strips of soil in preparation for planting, leaving the remaining soil undisturbed. This method is used to combine the benefits of no-till and conventional tillage systems. As described in Fig. 7, a narrow trench is 'drilled' to plant seeds, while the residue from the previous year's crop, like corn stalks, might be left to decompose naturally. The primary reasons for using strip tillage are to limit soil compaction, protect soil organisms, reduce farming costs, promote water infiltration, and prevent topsoil erosion, which are imperative to sustainable farming practices. This method also helps to sequester carbon into the soil and reduce the release of greenhouse gases, thus contributing to global warming mitigation.
Nonetheless, tillage practice suitability can vary depending on soil texture and composition. While tillage can break up compacted soil clods, it also increases the rate of organic matter decomposition. In vast agricultural areas, this can lead to the emission of carbon and nitrous oxides. By contrast, strip tillage and no-till farming can help to sequester carbon and are considered beneficial in the context of both local and global sustainability efforts.