Best Practice Knowledge Base

Tilling (also partly known as plowing, ploughing, disking, auguring, or subsoiling) involves breaking up compacted soils to improve conditions for root establishment and seedling growth. It aims at loosening the soil structure, and enhancing aeration and water infiltration, which are crucial for seedlings to access nutrients and moisture. By disrupting soil compaction, tilling also reduces physical barriers to root penetration, enabling seedlings to develop more robust root systems. This technique is particularly beneficial in degraded or previously cultivated lands where compaction from heavy machinery or agricultural practices may hinder tree regeneration. Properly implemented, it creates favorable micro-sites for tree establishment, but care must be taken to avoid excessive soil disturbance, erosion risks, or disruption of beneficial soil organisms.