Also known as zero-till or direct seeding, no-till is a conservative method of soil and crop management, where the seed is applied directly to the untreated soil. The herbicides used to eliminate weeds before, after and during cultivation are the least polluting possible for the soil, which must always be covered. Unlike conventional farming, where the soil is ploughed before each sowing, direct seeding preserves soil structure and vegetation cover[i].
[i] Mrabet, R. (2001). Le semis direct : potentiel et limites pour une agriculture durable en Afrique du Nord. Centre de développement sous-régional pour l’Afrique du Nord de la Commission économique des Nations Unies pour l’Afrique (CDSR-AN/CEA). 30p