The researchers studied different ways to improve soil quality for growing beans without tilling the soil. They compared ploughing and chiseling to see which method worked best. They found that chiseling and ploughing helped the soil stay moist for longer, which is good for growing beans. However, tilling the soil didn't always lead to higher crop yields. The researchers also looked at how soil water content changed over time, and found that chiseling the soil was the most effective method.