Tillage is the mechanical working of soil to prepare seedbeds, control weeds and incorporate residues or fertiliser, with depth and intensity matched to crop type and soil conditions to protect structure and limit erosion.
In trade practice
Ukrainian arable producers use a range of tillage systems, from deep mouldboard ploughing to minimum-till and strip-till, depending on crop rotation and soil type. Organic certification bodies require tillage records as part of farm management documentation. Buyers of grains and pulses should note that tillage choices affect weed pressure and, consequently, the risk of contaminant seeds in the harvested lot.
In a specification
Organic and GlobalG.A.P. supplier questionnaires typically ask for tillage method and depth as part of soil management records; some contracts for certified grain include tillage system as a declared farm practice.