To Till or Not to Till – Agricology Podcast

In the last episode of the series, plant ecologist Jonathan Storkey treats us to fascinating insights on biodiversity in production systems and soil microbial communities, emphasising how context is crucial when choosing your tillage approach. He shares his journey from birdwatching ecologist to leading weed scientist at Rothamsted Reseach, where he has been studying tillage and biodiversity interactions for over two decades.

He dives into the concept of “functional biodiversity”- pollinators, predators, and microbes that support food production, and how tillage impacts those delicate systems. We explore the Rothamsted long-term systems trials, where contrasting tillage approaches across different soil types are revealing nuanced shifts in yield, weed pressure, soil carbon, and microbial succession. Jonathan explains how early-stage bacteria-dominated soils differ from more stable fungal systems, and how physical disturbance resets succession.

“The effect of reduced tillage depends on where you are and what else you are doing in the system… We’re finding that the combination of reduced tillage + green compost + cover crops + a perennial ley in annual rotation is giving you added benefits. It’s having synergistic effects…In the regen ag conversation, layering these principles is absolutely crucial.“

In this episode with farmer John Pawsey, we talk about the role of tillage in organic systems, balancing weed and pest pressures, how regenerative overlaps with organic, and how diversity drives success. John shares his journey from conventional spraying to organic, mixed farming (over 25 years ago). He explains why he ploughs selectively (once or twice in a six-year rotation) and how organic farming pushes innovation through the limits of its standards. His approach is rooted in observation, adaptability, and profitability.

We explore how he adjusts tillage depth based on weed type and the importance of bringing complexity into your rotation and not letting one problem dominate – in relation to weeds, pests and diseases.

“I came to realise that when you’re bringing complexity into a system like an organic system so that no one thing dominates… it’s got to be diverse in everything… drilling date… crops… rotation… but also there’s got to be a diversity in tillage because without being able to use any pesticides (especially herbicides)… if you keep on doing the same thing year in and year out, what you’re doing is you’re selecting problems… something that likes what you’re doing will dominate.”

The third episode of the series welcomes the Organic Research Centre’s Julia Cooper who shares her expertise as a soil scientist. We look at soil health from a scientific perspective, focusing on nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and the nuanced role of tillage across different soil types and farming systems. Julia explains how soil health is context-specific, emphasising the importance of balancing biology, water management, and soil structure, rather than seeking one-size-fits-all solutions.

We dive into how tillage affects water retention, soil productivity and microbial life, and discuss trade-offs between conventional and reduced tillage, looking at how practices such as direct drilling and cover cropping interact with climate and soil type, rather than existing as binary choices.

“The carbon sequestration argument is not the strongest one… maybe the stronger argument for no till is around water and… protecting the surface of the soil so you have less run-off, more infiltration, less movement of soil out of the fields…”

This second episode with Mark Measures explores the role of tillage in organic systems, the misunderstood relationship between tillage and soil carbon, the balance between weed control and nutrient cycling, and how tillage fits into wider farming systems. Mark reflects on 40 years in organic advice, with deep roots in research, education, and farmer engagement.

He argues that tillage, especially shallow and strategic, plays a crucial role in organic farming; not only for weed control and seedbed preparation, but also for stimulating nutrient release and building long-term stable carbon. He explores common misconceptions such as the oversimplified view that all tillage depletes soil organic matter, and explains that tillage can mineralise nutrients and stabilise humus, which is essential for carbon sequestration and water retention. He also challenges the belief that zero-till is the pinnacle of organic, pointing to climate and system-specific limitations.

“… less than 10% of arable farming in the UK is zero tillage, despite all the noise…That is a reflection of the fact that there are some problems with no till, including soil structure problems and weed problems…”

The first episode of our latest series introduces both Wallace Currie, guest podcaster from the Isle of Arran (search R2Kast), who will be chatting to guests throughout the series, and Cambridgeshire farmer Tom Martin. They discuss transitioning to no-till, the emotional and practical side of regenerative farming, redefining success through mistakes, and the value of community and biodiversity in agroecological systems.

Tom shares his life journey from Universal Pictures to working back on the family farm, explaining how those soft skills transferred to his role as a regenerative farming advocate. The farm has gradually moved from full inversion tillage to almost no-till – driven by soil health, improving drainage and weed pressure, and a desire to farm more efficiently.

“No till… It might be the first pillar often listed but it’s not the foundation. If you’re going to start something, start by increasing your rotation, getting living roots in the ground through the winter, start by protecting your soil surface… and then get into your reduced tillage…”