Abstract Reducing tillage intensity offers the possibility of moving towards sustainable intensification objectives. Reduced tillage (RT) practices, where the plough is not used, can provide a number of environmental and financial benefits, particularly for soil erosion control. Based on 2010 harvest year data from the nationally stratified Farm Business Survey and drawing on a sub‐sample of 249 English arable farmers, we estimate that approximately 32% of arable land was established under RT, with 46% of farms using some form of RT. Farms more likely to use some form of RT were larger, located in the East Midlands and South East of England and classified as ‘Cereals’ farms. Application of RT techniques was not determined by the age or education level of the farmer. Individual crops impacted the choice of land preparation, with wheat and oilseed rape being more frequently planted after RT than field beans and root crops, which were almost always planted after ploughing. This result suggests there can be limitations to the applicability of RT. Average tillage depth was only slightly shallower for RT practices than ploughing, suggesting that the predominant RT practices are quite demanding in their energy use. Policy makers seeking to increase sustainable RT uptake will need to address farm‐level capital investment constraints and target policies on farms growing crops, such as wheat and oilseed rape, that are better suited to RT practices.

中文翻译：

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我们在英国如何种植？作物生产系统中的耕作方法

摘要 减少耕作强度为实现可持续集约化目标提供了可能性。在不使用犁的情况下，减少耕作 (RT) 做法可以提供许多环境和经济利益，特别是在土壤侵蚀控制方面。根据来自全国分层农场企业调查的 2010 年收获年份数据，并利用 249 名英国耕地农民的子样本，我们估计大约 32% 的耕地是在 RT 下建立的，46% 的农场使用某种形式的 RT . 更有可能使用某种形式的 RT 的农场更大，位于东米德兰兹和英格兰东南部，被归类为“谷物”农场。RT 技术的应用不是由农民的年龄或教育水平决定的。个别作物影响整地的选择，小麦和油菜在 RT 后种植的频率高于大田豆类和块根作物，后者几乎总是在翻耕后种植。这一结果表明 RT 的适用性可能存在限制。RT 实践的平均耕作深度仅比犁耕略浅，这表明主要的 RT 实践对能源使用的要求很高。寻求增加可持续 RT 吸收的政策制定者将需要解决农场层面的资本投资限制，并针对种植更适合 RT 实践的小麦和油菜等作物的农场制定目标政策。RT 实践的平均耕作深度仅比犁耕略浅，这表明主要的 RT 实践对能源使用的要求很高。寻求增加可持续 RT 吸收的政策制定者将需要解决农场层面的资本投资限制，并针对种植更适合 RT 实践的小麦和油菜等作物的农场制定目标政策。RT 实践的平均耕作深度仅比犁耕略浅，这表明主要的 RT 实践对能源使用的要求很高。寻求增加可持续 RT 吸收的政策制定者将需要解决农场层面的资本投资限制，并针对种植更适合 RT 实践的小麦和油菜等作物的农场制定目标政策。