It is better to prefer no-dig gardening to prevent soil damage and erosion. When we dig the soil for gardening the soil is disturbed. The life of soil gets damaged. Of course we want to remove weeds present tightly attached to the soil.
Also we need to dig to add compost and other fertilizing materials to provide useful material for gardening. As we dig the soil gets exposed to the air and the nutrients in it get used up. The micro organisms get killed and can be used as fertilizer for the soil.
But the damages, disturbance and erosion of soil are the causes which encourage no-dig gardening. We bring the microorganisms to the surface without digging. They will loosen the soil and aerate it by creating burrows. Just add some organic matter like compost, rotted manure, mushroom compost or old straw.
These will be added a little thick up to 2 inches or so. That ensures the micro organisms pull them downwards and build the soil structure. The tunnels created by these organisms provide aeration for the soil.
Pests and diseases are prevented by no-dig gardening because the soil is not disturbed to populate unwanted organisms. The moisture stays better under the mulch than on the soil. This technique recommended in preventing soil damage and erosion.
