Brazil expands no-till farming to 45 million hectares

Brazil's no-till farming system, known as Sistema de Plantio Direto (SPD), is projected to cover approximately 45 million hectares by 2026. This figure represents 65% of the country's temporary crop area, according to researcher Rafael Fuentes Llanillo of IDR-Paraná and the Brazilian Federation of the No-Till System (FEBRAPDP).

The technique relies on three core principles: minimal soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover through straw or living vegetation, and crop rotation. These practices help control erosion, conserve moisture, and improve the physical, chemical, and biological quality of the soil.

Beyond environmental benefits, the system offers economic advantages by reducing the need for conventional soil preparation like plowing and harrowing. This leads to fewer machine passes, saving fuel, labor, and time. The practice has deep roots in Brazil, tracing back to 1972 in Rolândia, Paraná, where Herbert Bartz conducted one of the first commercial no-till soybean plantings in Latin America.