Oliver1,

Not everything you read (or hear) is true, even if it does come from university or other scientists.  There are quite literally dozens (if not hundreds) of studies showing N, P, K and other commercial fertilizers are quite effective when surface applied in no-till.  Manure, the same.  The 'need' to do tillage will always exist in the minds of some, but the rest of the world is moving on.

Here is a link on manure citing actual research on the matter:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/waste/nm1292w.htm