Reduced tillage intensity with limited use of inversion tillage shows benefits for soil biota. However, these seem to be direct effects only for soil macrofauna; more generally the impacts are mediated through increases in the amount or changes to the quality of OM inputs or changes in plant diversity.
More work is needed to assess the impacts of changes in tillage in grassland systems – such as the use of aeration within the grassland systems. Where such tillage approaches are adopted together with changes to management of organic inputs, e.g. by application of composted manures immediately following an aeration pass, it seems likely that additional benefits will accrue for both soil organisms and overall soil health.