The chisel plough is used to get deep tillage and to prepare the land with minimal soil disruption. Its main feature is to loosen and aerate the soils while leaving crop residue on the surface. This plough can be used to reduce the effects of compaction and to help break up ploughpan and hardpan.

Unlike many other ploughs, the chisel does not invert or turn the soil. This feature has made it the plough of choice for no-till and limited-tillage farming practises for erosion-prevention benefits by keeping organic matter and farming residues present on the soil surface through the year.