Tillage was once encouraged to prevent 
erosion …. ”roughening” the surface. Tillage implements reduce and remove pore spaces, restricting water infiltration and destroying the substances that hold the soil together…...leading to increased erosion. In addition, tillage increases the ponding of water because of reduced infiltration, depletes organic matter and allows soil to crust over and inhibit plant emergence.
Can we reverse the impacts from tillage and improve soil function? Yes, we can. Minimizing soil disturbance is a good start to rebuilding soil aggregates, pore spaces, soil glue and soil organic matter. This is an essential step for long-term soil productivity.
LINKS
Videos:
No-till Gardening with Donna Adrian
Dwayne Beck - Integrating No-till or Strip-till and Cover Crops
Jon Stevens Maple Grove Farms - Strip Till vs No Till
Jon Stevens - Planter set up for no till
Jon Stevens - Cost comparisons
Jon Stevens - Fall Tillage Fallacy.