• Reviews the effects of no-till practices on soil health, focussing on its impact on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils
• Considers the key concepts of no-tillage agriculture and how soil disturbance can be minimised during particular farming activities
• Assesses the role of no-till agricultural practices on reducing the risk of soil erosion

Contributions by: Alison Hamm and Daniel K. Manter, USDA-ARS, USA; Theodor Friedrich, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy; Michele Pisante, University of Teramo, Italy; Angelica Galieni, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics and Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Italy; Gottlieb Basch, University of Évora, Portugal; Theodor Friedrich, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Italy; and Fabio Stagnari, University of Teramo, Italy; Michael Kucera, formerly USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)/National Soil Survey Center, USA