1. Introduction.- Reasons for Tillage.- Factors that Contributed to the Increased Interest in No-Tillage Systems.- Advantages of No-Tillage.- Disadvantages of No-Tillage.- Present Philosophy in No-Tillage.- 2. Effects of Climate on Performance of No-Tillage.- Precipitation and Evapotranspiration.- Soil Temperature.- Corn Seedling Growth as Related to Soil Temperature.- Time of Planting.- 3. Soil Adaptability for No-Tillage.- Some Factors Affecting Adoption of No-Tillage 42 Soil Drainage.- Suitability for Sloping Land.- Soil Water Erosion.- Erosion Control by No-Tillage.- Controlling Soil Wind Erosion by No-Tillage.- Steeplands.- 4. Soil Moisture.- Effect of Mulch on Evaporation of Soil Water.- Effect of Soil Texture, Pans and Drainage Class on Soil Water Evaporation.- Soil Water in Field Studies.- Effect of No-Tillage on Root Growth.- 5. Fertilization and Liming.- The Soil Environment Under No-Tillage Versus Conventional Tillage.- Nitrogen Requirements for No-Tillage Crops.- Pathways of Nitrogen in the Two Systems.- Methods of Nitrogen Application.- Phosphorus Requirements.- Potassium Distribution and Availability in the Soil.- Soil Acidity and Lime.- Sulfur.- Micro nutrients.- Role of Cover Crops in Nitrogen Fertilization of No-Tillage.- 6. Energy Requirement in No-Tillage.- Energy Use in Agriculture.- Need for Energy Conservation in Agriculture.- Energy Use and Efficiency in Tillage Systems.- Tillage Operations.- Planting.- Field Machinery.- Seeding Rates.- Weed Control.- Comparison of Tillage System.- Energy Efficiency in Fertilizer Management.- Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilizer Efficiency.- Time of Application and Nitrogen Fertilizer Efficiency.- Effect of Fertilizer Placement on Efficiency.- Nitrogen from Legume Cover Crops.- Energy Efficiency in Forage Production.- 7. Response of Weeds and Herbicides Under No-Tillage Conditions.- Some Factors Affecting Weed Control in No-Tillage.- Effect of Surface Plant Residue on Herbicide Persistence.- 8. Other Pests in No-Tillage and Their Control.- Insects.- Soil Insects.- Above-Ground Insects.- Diseases.- Corn.- Sorghum.- Soybeans.- Wheat.- Summary.- 9. Changes in Soil Properties Under No-Tillage.- The Microbial Environment.- Number and Activity of Soil Microorganisms.- Tillage Effects on Soil Animals.- Decomposition of Organic Matter.- Mineralization and Immobilization of Nitrogen.- Effects of Tillage on Nitrification and Denitrification.- Soil Physical Properties.- Influence of Mulches on Soil Physical Properties.- Effect of Tillage on Soil Density and Porosity.- Chemical Properties.- Phosphorus and Potassium.- Magnesium.- Summary of Chemical Properties.- 10. Multicropping.- Multicropping With No-Tillage Techniques.- Beginnings of Multiple Cropping in the United States.- Requirements for Successful Multiple Cropping.- Length of Growing Season.- Water.- Weed Control.- Fertilizer Practices.- Equipment.- Management of Multiple Cropping.- Profitability of Multiple Cropping.- The Future of Multiple Cropping.- Winter-Summer Double Cropping.- Summer-Summer Double Cropping.- Winter-Summer-Summer Double Cropping.- Other Multiple Cropping Systems.- External Factors Affecting Profitability of Multiple Cropping.- Combining Agronomic Practices for Multicropping on Sloping Land.- 11. Equipment.- Planters and Planting No-Tillage.- Types of Planters.- Tractor Requirements for No-Tillage.- Pesticide Applicators.- Hand Planting.- 12. No-Tillage in the Tropics.- Soil Resources.- Distribution and Classification of Tropical Soils.- Properties and Characteristics of Tropical Soils.- Soil Fertility.- Erosion Problems.- Water Resources.- Climatic Conditions in the Tropics.- Soil Moisture Storage and Water Use.- Conservation of Water Using No-Tillage.- Human Resources.- Availability of Labor.- Other Sources of Energy.- Acceptance of New Technology.- Management Ability.- Prospects for Success of No-Tillage in the Tropics.- Small Farmers and Large-Scale Farmers.- Soil Conservation.
