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What is No-Till ?

No-till farming is a conservation agriculture practice where crops are planted directly into undisturbed soil. In addition no-till can be based in three key principles:

Minimal Soil Disturbance

Preserve soil structure and reduce compaction.

Permanent Soil Cover

Using cover crops and crop residues protects the soil from erosion.

Diverse Crop Rotation

Rotating different crops improves soil fertility and prevent diseases outbreak.

Some of its benefits are soil health inprovement, reduces erosion and enhances water concervation, increase carbon sequestration and cost reduction (fuel, labor and fertilizer).

It is no coincidence that no-till farming is recognized by the FAO as the only system capable of producing food while conserving natural resources.

Here at Semeato, we believe No-Till is the future of agriculture, which is why we fully integrate it into our products.

Semeato’s seeding drills, planters, and multiple machines are developed to optimize No-Till under any type of soil and climatic condition.

`History No-Till in Brazil`
do Plantio Direto no Brasil

The history of No-Till in Brazil begins in 1969, in Rio Grande do Sul, with the first direct seeding experiment using a machine imported from the USA.

This pioneering practice yielded promising harvests, but it was the partnership between Semeato and EMBRAPA-Trigo that helped popularize No-Till.

In 1977, Semeato, together with EMBRAPA, developed a special disc kit for its PS-6 machines, making direct seeding on a much larger scale possible. Since then, the area under no-till has grown exponentially, and today, more than 27 million hectares in Brazil are cultivated with this system.

Timeline of No-Till Farming in Brazil

1969:

First experiment in RS (Rio Grande do Sul) with a “Buffalo” seeder

1977

Semeato launches a kit adapted for No-Till

Nowadays

27 million hectares under No-Till in Brazil

Seeding in No-Till Farming

Seeding is the key point for no-till success.

From the economic standpoint, the planting operation concentrates a substantial portion os the costs associated with crop management.

In soybeans production 69.6% of all inputs used in the crop are applied during planting, 41.9% of the labor required for crop management is concentrated in this stage, and 15.9% of the total operational cost is incurred in the planting operation. Meaning that 47.7% of the total cost of soybean production is allocated to seeding.

In corn, costs allocated during planting reach 49.6% of the total crop cost.

From a qualitative standpoint, several factors interfere with planting quality, among which stand out:

01.

Seed

Seed physiological quality is essential because it reflects the crop’s yield potential.
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However, inadequate physical and morphological quality— specially non uniform seed size and shape, negatively affects system performance. Seed irregularity compromises metering precision and distribution uniformity, reduces the operational efficiency of grain drills and planters, and hinders the establishment of the target plant population.

02.

Machine

Planting equipment must operate reliably across diverse soil textures and residue loads, ensuring effective residue cutting, precise furrow opening, and accurate metering and placement of seeds and fertilizers at specified application rates and target depths.

03.

Speed and planting quality

Speed has a direct influence on planting quality.
It directly affects seed metering, seed placement depth, and soil mixing.‍

04.

Cover crops

The type, volume, and distribution on the soil surface influence the performance of the machine.

05.

Soil conditions

The soil’s moisture content and physical characteristics (structure, density, etc.) affect the performance of the machine and the development of the crop.

Benefits of No-Till Agriculture

Curiosity

The FAO recognizes No-Till System as the only system capable of producing food while conserving natural resources.

Erosion Reduction

No-till reduces erosion by 90%
(Source: USDA, 2023)

Enhances Water Conservation

Water penetration rates in no-till soil are 2-3 times higher, reducing runoff (Source: Soil & Tillage Research , 2022)

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Soil Health Improvement

No-till fileds have 60% more organic matter (Source: USDA, 2023)
Soil microbimass increases by 30% to 40% under no-till conditions (Jornal of Soil Science, 2022)

Sustainability and Profitability

No-till farming helps sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store in the soil. Mitigating climate change.
No-till ultimately reduce cost associated with fuel, labor and fertilizer.

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Choosing the Ideal Machine

The ideal machine is one that meets each farmer's needs. To choose the ideal planter, the following factors should be considered:

Property size

Available tractor power

Crops rotation used

Fertilization system

Crop types

Soil type

Available manpower

Technological level

Terrain topography

Semeato offers a range of equipment adaptable to various conditions, ensuring the producer to choose the perfect solution for their crop.

See machines

Why does Semeato invest in no-till system?

For Semeato, No-Till represents more than technological innovation — it is a philosophy of respect for the environment and the future of agriculture.

Our machines are designed to optimize the processes of this system, offering efficient and sustainable solutions to producers around the world.

Explore more about the System No-till

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Semeato and No-Till