The practice of turning the soil before planting is so universal that the plough has for centuries been a symbol of agriculture. Continual soil inversion can in some situations lead to a degradation of soil structure leading to a compacted soil composed of fine particles with low levels of soil organic matter. Such soils are more prone to soil loss through water and wind erosion eventually resulting in desertification. This process can directly and indirectly cause a wide range of environmental problems.

To combat soil loss and preserve soil moisture, soil conservation techniques were developed and known as ‘conservation tillage’(CT), his involves soil