Impact of Ten Years Conservation Tillage in Organic Farming on Soil Physical Properties in a Loess Soil—Northern Hesse, Germany

In conservation agriculture, tillage potentially influences the physical, chemical, and biological quality of soil. Although effects agriculture on soil’s physical properties have been studied in conventional management systems, studies organic farming especially concerning long-term changes, are scarce. This study summarizes results mechanical soil parameters obtained over initial 10 years different treatments (plowing versus reduced with without compost application) an field trial conducted central Germany. Moreover, as a research objective, measures were evaluated. Differences during mainly detected topsoil. At depth 0.10–0.24 m, total porosity air capacity lower, bulk density was higher reduced-tillage compared to those plowed treatments. Additionally, stability (precompression stress) at 0.10 m for systems combined application. addition, aggregate enhanced (higher mean weight diameter, determined via wet sieving). Overall, did not exceed critical values soil, nor affect functionality (saturated hydraulic conductivity), thereby demonstrating its feasibility sustainable technique farming. Future should include ameliorate compaction zones treatments, e.g., by applying subsoiling techniques combination deep-rooting crops prevent limited rooting space resulting from high impedance, under dry conditions.