The intensity of tillage in organic farming is critical and often criticised, leading to progress in both practices and the ability to objectively assess the problem.
Tillage and weed control practices vary widely. However, the terms used to describe them are qualitative and say nothing about the actual disturbance to the soil. This gap can be filled by a first version of the STIR calculator. This tool, developed in the United States, has been implemented in different networks (Progrès Sol) but has not yet been tested in practice. Improvements are needed in the parameterisation of the calculations (rotation, machine, settings). In particular, there is a lack of practical references to allow comparisons between rotations, crops or machines. The aim is to ensure that this tool is used to improve practices and develop new cropping strategies.
Finally, we need to link the STIR calculation to field observations to explain soil conditions or validate cultivation practices.
