Is tillage always bad for soil?

The answer

Not always, but frequent or deep tillage can break down aggregates, speed up organic matter loss and leave soil bare to rain and wind. Light, well-timed tillage on a stable, covered soil can be manageable. The key is to disturb the soil only as much as needed, to avoid working it when wet, and to keep it covered afterwards. Reduced tillage is not a cure-all either: weed control, cooler spring soils and several years before benefits show are common trade-offs.