No-till with retained stubble has the potential to improve soil properties and increase sustainability. It can do this by lifting and modifying soil biological activity that gives excellent improvements in all aspects of soil fertility, being physical, chemical and biological. These improvements lead to better farm management as well as improved sustainability.

The main benefits of no-till, with appropriate agronomic management, include:

1. Almost no soil erosion through stubble retention and proper grazing management (especially in sandy soils).
2. Greater flexibility of farm operations through less time used at seeding and improved soil structure leading to better trafficability, more manageable soils and more timely seeding and other operations.
3. More precise seed placement with more even crop emergence, if seeded at correct moisture content.
4. More water harvested to grow the crop in dry areas.
5. Often less in-crop weed emergence and safer use of trifluralin herbicide for weed control.
6. Less labour, fuel and machinery costs per hectare.
7. Better whole farm profitability and sustainability.

No-till with stubble retention increases soil
organic matter and biological activity.