Which practice helps minimize nutrient runoff?

Conservation tillage is a practice aimed at minimizing soil disturbance and maintaining organic matter on the soil surface. By reducing the amount of soil tilled during planting, it helps improve soil structure, increase water infiltration, and reduce erosion. This is crucial in minimizing nutrient runoff because it allows for more nutrient retention in the soil while also slowing down water movement across the surface that could carry away dissolved nutrients into nearby water bodies.

Conservation tillage often leaves crop residues on the surface, which can absorb moisture and further prevent erosion and runoff. This approach aligns perfectly with sustainable agricultural practices, focusing on preserving soil health while ensuring that nutrients remain available for crop uptake, rather than being lost to the environment.