Zero-tillage technology (ZTT) refers to the growing of crop with the
least possible soil disturbance, which involves controlling unwanted
vegetation by other than mechanical means or by minimum use of tillage
equipment. This is also known as minimum or reduced tillage, as shedding
required some tillage operation. Thus zero tillage is a tillage system
in which mechanical soil manipulation is reduced to traffic and seed-bed
preparation only. (Baeumer and Brkermants, 1973). Indeed ZTT is
presumably the oldest crop production system by human. In some parts of
the tropics, ZTT is still a part of slash-and-burn-agriculture. After
cleaning an area of forest by controlled burning, the seed is directly
placed into the soil without benefit of tillage. However, research based
zero tillage technology was first used successfully in 1950 pasture
renovation in USA with mulch farming practices and the till plant system
for row crop in order to provide year round protection of the soil from
erosion and to minimize planting cost. Keeping in view, the importance
of study, the investigation was undertaken in the Karnal and Fatehabad
districts of Haryana state with the following specific objectives: