---
title: Tillage definitions explained
description: Learn how Monitor tillage practice definitions relate to on-field management practices
---

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# Tillage definitions explained

## Learn how Monitor tillage practice definitions relate to on-field management practices

| **Tillage practice** | **Definition** | **Management activity examples** | **Soil disturbance depth** | **Residue range** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Conventional till | Deep tillage, any soil inversion | - Plow - Deeper disking, subsoiling, or cultivation | 10-30cm | Fragile crops: 0-15% Non-fragile: 0-30%  Residue incorporated into soil |
| Reduced till | Shallow tillage, no more than 3 tillage events or passes | - Harrow - Subsoiling - Strip tillage - Shallow disking or cultivation | 1-10cm | Fragile crops:15-30% Non-fragile: 30-60%  Surface residue is detectable |
| No till | Direct seeding systems, minimal additional field work | - Direct seeding - Edge of field work | \>2 cm | Fragile crops:+30% Non-fragile: +60%  Surface residue is detectable |

 

### Impact of field work on Monitor tillage practice detection

Any field work that disturbs the soil may impact surface residue, and therefore how Monitor detects and reports tillage practices. The table below contains common field work examples that may look like tillage activity via remote sensing.

| **Activity** | **Description ** | **Tillage Intensity** (detected by Monitor) | **Soil Impact** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Field Repair and Improvement** |  |  |  |
| Post-flood repair  | - Soil drying and drainage - Sand incorporation  - Gully repair | Conventional tillage for the **following crop** | - Deep tillage is generally employed for post flood repair - Action on part of the field will impact the full field tillage intensity  |
| Hardpan breakup | - Use of subsoiler or deep tillage to break up hardpan  - Often limited to part of a field  | Reduced  or Conventional tillage for the **following crop** | - Intended to treat a drainage issue rather than prepare seedbed - Will mix residue into the soil, increasing tillage intensity |
| **Nutrient Applications** |  |  |  |
| Anhydrous Ammonia Application  | - Injection of anhydrous ammonia using “knives” to cut into the soil - Can take place in fall or spring at variable depths | No-Till or Reduced tillage for the **following crop** | - Anhydrous knives disturb the soil and can mix or move residue - Depending on the application method, can reduce residue cover by 15% - 30%. |
| Manure Application and Incorporation  | - Application or injection of animal manures onto a field - Incorporation of manure into the soil using soil mixing or covering | Reduced  or Conventional tillage for the **following crop** | - Use of injection and application methods that disturb the soil will mix residue into the soil, increasing tillage intensity - Chisel and disk applicators can remove 30% - 50% of crop residues |
| **Root Vegetables** |  |  |  |
| Root Vegetable Harvest | - Digging to harvest tubers / beets  - Removal of soil during harvest | Reduced  or Conventional tillage for the **following crop** | - Equivalent to full width tillage - Soil disturbance  - Beets: 10 cm - Potatoes: 25 cm |
| Potato Planting | - Creation of ridges to bury seed potatoes  | Reduced  or Conventional tillage for the **current crop** | - Planted at 5-10 cm - Ridging disturbs soil  \>10 cm, full width |
| **Residue Removal** |  |  |  |
| Residue Harvest | - Removal of residue for straw or animal feed - More common with small grains or corn | Reduction of residue causes appearance of increased tillage intensity for the **following crop** | - Monitor tillage determination is based on residue cover - Any removal or residue is attributed to tillage activity |
| Harvest for Silage | - Harvest of corn or other crop biomass for animal feed | Reduction of residue causes appearance of increased tillage intensity for the **following crop** | - Monitor tillage determination is based on residue cover - Any removal or residue is attributed to tillage activity |

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