Advantages of conventional tillage

1. Deep ploughing turns out large sized clods when it is done in summer, which is baked by the hot sun. These clods crumble due to alternate heating and cooling.
2. Summer deep ploughing kills pests due to exposure of pupae to hot sun.
3. Deep tillage also improves the soil moisture content of the soil.
4. The plant residues protect the soil against the beating action of rain drops, keep the surface of the soil open and increase the infiltration of water compared to a bare soil.

Disadvantages

1. In conventional tillage system the soil is subjected to wind and water erosion because only about 15% organic residues are left on the field surface.
2. The timing of operation is too difficult to meet the requirements and costs of energy and labour are too high and in most of the cases it is uneconomical.
3. Hard pans formation may take place in the soil by the continuous use of heavy implements, which restrict root growth of crop.
4. The heavy loss of soil, water and plant nutrients takes place in conventional tillage compared to conservation tillage.