Remediation of subsoil compaction and compaction effects on corn N availability by deep tillage and application of poultry manure in a sandy-textured soil

Subsoil compaction may reduce the availability and uptake of water and plant nutrients thereby lowering crop yields. Among the management options for remediating subsoil compaction are deep tillage and the selection of crop rotations with deep-rooted crops, but little is known of the effects of applications of organic amendments on subsoil compaction. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of subsoil compaction on corn yield and N availability in a sandy-textured soil and to evaluate the use of deep tillage and surface applications of poultry manure to remediate subsoil compaction. A field experiment planted to corn (Zea mays L.) was conducted from 2000 to 2001 on a Reelfoot fine sandy loam (fine-silty, mixed thermic Aquic Argiudolls) formed in silty alluvium located in southeast Missouri near the Mississippi River. Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with three levels of subsoil compaction and subsoiling and four rates (averaging 0, 6, 11 and 18 Mg ha⁻¹) of poultry manure. Subsoil tillage to a depth of 30 cm had multiple effects, including overcoming a natural or tillage-induced dense layer or pan and increasing volumetric soil water content and crop N uptake, especially in the 2001 cropping year with low early season precipitation. N recovery efficiency (NRE) was significantly higher in the subsoil treatment compared to the highest compaction treatment in 2001. No significant interactions between manure rates and compaction and subsoiling treatments were observed for corn grain and silage yields, N uptake and NRE. Average increases in corn grain yields over all manure rates due to subsoil tillage of compacted soil were 2002 kg ha⁻¹ in 2000 and 3504 kg ha⁻¹ in 2001. Application of poultry manure had a consistent positive effect on increasing grain yields and N uptake in 2000 and 2001 but did not significantly alter measured soil physical properties. The results of this study suggest that deep tillage and applications of organic amendments are management tools that may overcome restrictions in both N and soil water availability due to subsoil compaction in sandy-textured soils.     

培肥和耕作措施季节性干旱下对红壤剖面水分变化和产量的影响

为了探讨培肥和耕作措施下红壤旱地的土壤剖面水分变化和产量对季节性干旱的响应规律,本研究在大田试验条件下系统分析了稻草覆盖、有机肥和常免耕对土壤剖面含水量、表层土壤温度及作物产量变化趋势。结果表明,在猪粪施用、常耕和免耕处理的土壤含水率不存在显著差异。而在相同耕作和猪粪条件下,稻草覆盖与否对土壤含水量影响较大,在春玉米和秋玉米季中连续干旱条件下,稻草覆盖处理下0—5,5—10,10—20 cm土壤含水量均高于不覆盖处理,稻草覆盖处理下0—5,5—10,10—20 cm土壤含水量均高于不覆盖处理,春玉米季的增幅分别为27.93%,5.91%,1.41%,秋玉米季分别为15.74%,7.71%,2.59%。同时,稻草覆盖可以显著影响表层土壤的温度变化,在春玉米开花期,0—10 cm和10—20 cm的土壤温度覆盖比不覆盖分别降低了13.92%和2.26%。在秋玉米开花期0—10 cm和10—20 cm的土壤温度覆盖比不覆盖分别降低了0.30%和2.69%。在所有处理中,春玉米和秋玉米季均表现出稻草覆盖+施猪粪+常耕的秸秆和籽粒产量最高。     

Possibilities of direct drilling and reduced tillage in second crop silage corn

Reduced tillage techniques and direct seeding method that can replace the conventional methods, were examined in the western part of Turkey (Trakya Region) during the years of 1999 and 2000. In the experiment five tillage methods and no-tillage (DRD) were used. All tillage methods and direct seeding were applied in the dry soil conditions except conventional method. The tillage methods are heavy-duty disc harrow (DIS), plough (PLO), rotary tiller (ROT), tillage combination of tine, rotor and roller (TIC) and conventional tillage method in which plough is used in wet soil condition.

The effects of the treatments on soil penetration resistance, mean emergence dates, percentage of emerged seedlings, plant height, stem diameter and silage corn yield were measured.

All the parameters tested were found to be statistically significant. Direct seeding method gave the best result for mean of emergence dates (4.93 days) and percentage of emerged seedlings (95.48%). The best result for silage yield (69.32 Mg ha⁻¹) was found in tillage combination. The lowest yield (58.92 Mg ha⁻¹) was found in the heavy-duty disc harrow tillage method. Direct seeding gives the best results for tillage efficiency parameters, such as fuel consumption, effective power requirement and field efficiency. Reduced tillage and direct seeding methods can be used in second crop silage corn in the region.     

玉米果穗离散元模型构建与脱粒仿真验证

针对玉米脱粒离散元仿真中果穗模型难以表征籽粒分离和芯轴破碎的问题，该研究构建了玉米果穗聚合体离散元模型并进行脱粒仿真验证。基于玉米芯轴3层结构采用分层建模与网格划分方法建立玉米芯轴离散元模型，结合Plackett-Burman试验、最陡爬坡试验、Box-Behnken试验和仿真弯曲试验标定粘结参数；以马齿型玉米籽粒为原型，采用五球粘结的籽粒-芯轴连接方式建立玉米果穗聚合体离散元模型，仿真标定籽粒与芯轴的连接力；最后模拟梯形杆齿、圆头钉齿和纹杆块3种脱粒分离机构的玉米脱粒进程。结果表明：玉米芯轴弯曲破坏力和弯曲刚度仿真结果与实测平均值的相对误差分别为-0.12%和-0.14%，籽粒果柄轴向压缩力和径向压缩力仿真结果与实测平均值的偏差分别为-1.8和2.46 N，3种脱粒分离机构脱粒段仿真区域内籽粒平均法向接触力依次为12.50、12.32和8.03 N，3种脱粒元件对籽粒平均法向接触力的递减趋势与台架试验的籽粒破碎率变化一致，根据籽粒与脱粒元件接触合力的累积频率曲线确定籽粒破碎率的临界接触合力为550 N，仿真未脱净率依次为0.15%、0.37%、0.35%，较台架试验结果分别偏小0.07、偏高0.04和偏小0.25个百分点，沿滚筒轴向籽粒质量分布百分比曲线均表现为正偏态单峰分布，脱粒仿真试验的曲线峰值分别比台架试验高1.03、1.86和0.85个百分点，两者脱粒质量相近。该玉米果穗聚合体离散元模型参数标定准确，能够准确反映籽粒和芯轴的力学特性差异，可还原玉米脱粒分离过程，为后续脱粒分离机构的优化提供参考依据。     

Pipeline right‐of‐way construction activities impact on deep soil compaction

A 762‐mm‐diameter pipe 1,886 km long was installed to transfer crude oil in the USA from North Dakota to Illinois. To investigate the impact of construction and restoration practices on long‐term soil productivity and crop yield, vertical soil stresses induced by a Caterpillar (CAT) pipe liner PL 87 (475 kN vehicle load) and semi‐trailer truck (8.9 kN axle load) were studied in a farm field. Soil properties (bulk density and cone penetration resistance) were measured on field zones within the right‐of‐way (ROW) classified according to construction machine trafficking and subsoil tillage (300‐mm‐depth tillage and 450‐mm‐depth tillage in two repeated passes) treatments. At 200 mm depth from the subsoiled surface, the magnitude of peak vertical soil stress from trafficking by the semi‐truck trailer and CAT pipe liner PL 87 was 133 kPa. The peak vertical soil stress at 400 mm soil depth appeared to be influenced by vehicle weight, where the Caterpillar pipe liner PL 87 created soil compaction a magnitude of 1.5 greater than from the semi‐trailer truck. Results from the soil bulk density and soil cone penetration resistance measurements also showed the ROW zones had significantly higher soil compaction than adjacent unaffected corn planted fields. Tillage to 450 mm depth alleviated the deep soil compaction better than the 300‐mm‐depth tillage as measured by soil cone penetration resistance within the ROW zones and the unaffected zone. These results could be incorporated into agricultural mitigation plans in ROW construction utilities to minimize soil and crop damage.     

Tillage, mulch and irrigation effects on corn (Zea mays L.) in relation to evaporative demand

The effects of deep tillage, straw mulching, and irrigation on corn (Zea mays L.) yield on a loamy sand (mixed, hyperthermic, Typic Ustipsamment) were studied for early (high evaporativity) and normally sown (relatively low evaporativity) crop for 3 years in a semi-arid sub-tropical monsoon region at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Treatments included all combinations of two tillage systems (conventional tillage — harrowing the soil to a 10-cm depth; deep tillage — chiselling 40 cm deep, 35–40 cm apart), two irrigation regimes (75 mm irrigation when net open pan evaporation accumulated to 75 mm or 50 mm), and two straw mulch rates (0 and 6 Mg ha⁻¹).

Deep tillage significantly reduced soil strength (cone index) and caused deeper and denser rooting than conventional tillage, more so in the dry season and with the infrequent irrigation regime than in the wet season and frequent irrigation regime. Mulch also improved rooting by influencing the hydrothermal regime of the soil. Better rooting with deep tillage and/or mulch helped the crop to extract stored soil water more efficiently, which was reflected in a favourable plant water status (indicated by canopy temperature). Averaged across years, irrigation, and mulch, deep tillage increased grain yield by 1.6 Mg ha⁻¹ for the early season and 0.5 Mg ha⁻¹ for the normal season crop over the yield of 2.0 Mg ha⁻¹ achieved with conventional tillage regardless of season. Yield increase with mulching was also greater for the early season crop. Crop response to deep tillage and mulching was generally linked to the interplay between water supply (rain + irrigation) and demand (seasonal evaporativity) during the growing season. Increasing irrigation frequency increased crop yield when evaporativity exceeded rainfall early in the growing season. The results show that higher corn yields on coarse-textured soils in these regions may be achieved by advancing the seeding time and by using a proper combination of deep tillage, mulch, and irrigation.     

土壤化学特性、酶活性和产量对农业措施的敏感性研究

  【目的】  研究不同农业管理措施(耕作强度、施肥、轮作)对土壤化学特性、酶活性及产量的影响,为选择适合的、对农业管理措施敏感的土壤质量评价指标提供依据。  【方法】  2019年5月在霍伊特维尔(OHHO,始于1963年),伍斯特(OHWO,始于1962年),亚当斯(ORAD,始于1992年) 3个农业长期试验站分别采集了0—15 cm耕层土壤。在OHHO和 OHWO试验站,分别在免耕(NT)、深耕(CT)、浅耕(MT)条件下设轮作(玉米–燕麦–苜蓿)、单作(玉米)处理;在ORAD试验站,分别在为NT、CT条件下,设不施肥、施肥 (有、无覆盖物)处理。同年测定了土壤的pH、全氮、全碳、粘粒、砂粒、粉粒含量和β-葡萄糖苷酶、芳基硫酸酯酶、荧光素二乙酸酯活性。  【结果】  OHWO试验点不同处理间pH无显著差异。OHHO试验点玉米–燕麦–苜蓿轮作处理(COH)或玉米单作处理(CCC)与MT配合pH显著高于其他处理;ORAD试验点豆麦轮作、有覆盖物、施肥(PWY2),豆麦轮作、有覆盖物、不施肥(PWY)与NT配合 (PWY2-NT、PWY-NT),及小麦–休闲的WFa-NT与WFa-CT处理pH显著高于其他处理。耕作强度、作物轮作影响土壤pH,但pH没有一致的变化趋势,除PWY2-NT处理外施氮肥降低土壤pH。COH-NT、PWY2-NT、WFa2-NT 处理全氮、全碳含量显著高于其他处理,说明轮作、免耕配合施肥显著提高土壤全氮、全碳含量;OHHO、OHWO试验点各处理间产量差异不显著,ORAD试验点产量的变化表明除了农业管理措施,产量还受病虫害或当季突发自然灾害的影响。3个试验点轮作配合免耕β-葡萄糖苷酶、芳基硫酸酯酶、荧光素二乙酸酯活性最高。在OHHO试验点β-葡萄糖苷酶可以区分轮作配合浅耕或深耕(COH-MT、COH-CT),单作配合免耕、浅耕、深耕(CCC-NT、CCC-MT、CCC-CT)处理间的差异;在ORAD试验点可以区分豆麦轮作+覆盖物+施肥或不施肥分别配合免耕2个处理;区分麦–休闲+施肥或不施肥分别配合深耕2个处理间的差异,而全碳不能区分这些处理间的差异 。β-葡萄糖苷酶与全氮、全碳、芳基硫酸酯酶相关性达 5% 或 1% 水平。  【结论】  对外来扰动的敏感性表现为β-葡萄糖苷酶活性>全碳>产量,以β-葡萄糖苷酶活性判断,免耕配合轮作是较为理想的提高土壤质量的农业管理措施。     

耕作和施肥方式对土壤水分及饲用玉米产量的影响

为探究耕作和施肥方式对西北半干旱区饲用玉米(Zea may L.)土壤水分和产量的影响,以饲用玉米陇饲1号为材料,设置传统旋耕、立式深旋耕2种耕作方式以及单施化肥、有机肥替代化肥2种施肥方式组合,共4个处理,研究不同的耕作和施肥方式对饲用玉米土壤贮水量、花前花后耗水量、单株鲜重和干重以及产量的影响。结果表明,与传统旋耕相比,立式深旋耕能够降低饲用玉米0~300 cm土层土壤贮水量,提高花前耗水量,降低花后耗水量,增加生育期总耗水量,而有机肥替代化肥能够降低立式深旋耕方式下土壤总耗水量;立式深旋耕使成熟期单株干重增加1.3%~10.6%,单株鲜重增加4.9%~21.9%,而且不同程度增加了饲用玉米株高、穗长、穗粗、行粒数、百粒重、双穗率,降低了秃顶长,以上指标的变化均有利于高产试验形成。3年试验中立式深旋耕化肥处理较其他处理的籽粒产量增加1.8%~38.6%,丰水年生物量增加1.2%~15.1%,立式深旋耕有机肥处理较其他处理提高了干旱年生物量4.9%~21.9%、籽粒产量水分利用效率6.3%~34.8%、生物量水分利用效率7.1%~21.5%。综上,立式深旋耕能够改善作物生长土壤环境,有利于饲用玉米对土壤水分的吸收以及干物质量的积累,其组合化肥处理可以增加饲用玉米籽粒产量和丰水年生物量,组合有机肥替代处理可增加干旱年饲用玉米生物量和水分利用效率。本研究为西北半干旱区饲用玉米高产高效可持续生产提供了理论依据。     

Traffic and residue management systems: effects on fate of fertilizer N in corn

Soil compaction has been recognized as a problem limiting crop production, especially in the Southern Coastal Plain of the USA. Development of tillage and residue management systems is needed to alleviate soil compaction problems in these soils. Fertilizer nitrogen (N) management is also an important factor in these management systems. In 1988, a study was initiated with a wide-frame (6.3 m) vehicle to determine the interactive effects of traffic, deep tillage, and surface residue management on the fate of fertilizer N applied to corn (Zea mays L.) grown on a Norfork loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, Thermic, Typic Kandiudults). Corn was planted into a winter cover crop of ‘Tibbee’ crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.). Treatments included: traffic (conventional equipment or no traffic); deep tillage (no deep tillage, annual in-row subsoiling, or one-time only complete disruption); residue management (no surface tillage or disk and field cultivation). The one-time only complete disruption was accomplished by subsoiling at a depth of 43 cm on 25 cm centers in spring 1988. In 1990–1991, fertilizer applications were made as ¹⁵N-depleted NH₄NO₃ to microplots inside each treatment plot. The 1990 and 1991 data are reported here. In 1990 an extreme drought resulted in an average grain yield of 1.8 Mg grain ha⁻¹, whereas abundant rainfall in 1991 resulted in 9.4 Mg grain ha⁻¹. Deep tillage increased corn dry matter production in both years. In 1991, grain yields indicated that corn was susceptible to recompaction of soil owing to traffic when residues were incorporated with surface tillage. In the dry year, plant N uptake was increased 27% with deep tillage and decreased 10% with traffic. In the wet year, a surface tillage × deep tillage × traffic interaction was observed for total N uptake, fertilizer N uptake, and total fertilizer N recovery in the plant-soil system. When combined with traffic, plant N uptake was reduced with the highest intensity tillage treatment (135 kg N ha⁻¹) because of rootrestricting soil compaction, and with the lowest intensity tillage treatment (129 kg N ha⁻¹) because of increased N losses. In these soils, leaving residues on the soil surface can reduce the detrimental effect of traffic on corn production, but if no surface tillage is performed, deep tillage is needed.     

Effects of subsoil compaction on yield and yield attributes of wheat in the sub-humid region of Pakistan

The prolonged use of vehicular traffic for farming creates subsoil compaction, which reduces crop yield and deteriorates the physical conditions of the soil. Field experiments were conducted during 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 in Pakistan to study subsoil compaction effects on soil bulk density, total porosity, yield and yield components of wheat. Soil compaction was artificially created at the start of the experiment using 7.0 t roller having length of 1.5 m and diameter of 1.22 m. Treatments consisted of T₁ = control (no compaction), T₂ = two passes of roller, T₃ = four passes of roller, T₄ = six passes of roller. The experiments were arranged in randomised complete block with four replications. Results indicated that subsoil compaction adversely affected the bulk density, total porosity of soil and root length during both the years. Soil compaction increased the bulk density (BD) from 1.37 for T₁ to 1.57, 1.61 and 1.72 Mg m⁻³ whereas decreased the total porosity from 47.3% for T₁ to 40.0, 37.4 and 34.5% for T₂, T₃ and T_4, respectively. Similarly grain yield decreased from 4141.7 for T₁ to 3912.8, 3364.5 and 3010.3 kg ha⁻¹ for T₂, T₃ and T_4, respectively. The deteriorating effect of compaction depended upon the degree of compaction. Subsoil compaction adversely affected the yield and yield attributes of wheat during both years of experiments. The subsoil compaction adversely affected soil physical conditions, which substantially decreased the yield of wheat. Therefore, appropriate measures of periodic chiselling, controlled traffic, conservation tillage, and incorporating of crops with deep tap root system in rotation cycle is necessary to minimize the risks of subsoil compaction.     

Long-term conservation agriculture and intensified cropping systems: Effects on growth, yield, water, and energy-use efficiency of maize in northwestern India

Conservation agriculture(CA)-based best-bet crop management practices may increase crop and water productivity, while conserving and sustaining natural resources. We evaluated the performance of rainy season maize during 2014 under an ongoing long-term trial(established in 2008) with three tillage practices, i.e., permanent bed(PB), zero tillage(ZT), and conventional tillage(CT) as main plots, and four intensified maize-based cropping systems, i.e., maize-wheat-mungbean, maize-chickpea-Sesbania(MCS), maizemustard-mungbean, and maize-maize-Sesbania) as subplot treatments. In the seventh rainy season of the experiment, maize growth parameters, yield attributes, yield, and water-and energy-use efficiency were highest at fixed plots under ZT. Maize growth parameters were significantly(P 0.05) superior under ZT and PB compared with CT. Maize yield attributes, including cobs per m~2(7.8), cob length(0.183 m), grain rows per cob(13.8), and grains per row(35.6), were significantly higher under ZT than CT; however, no significant effect of cropping systems was found on maize growth and yield attributes. Zero tillage exhibited the highest maize productivity(4 589 kg ha~(-1)). However, among the cropping systems, MCS exhibited the highest maize productivity(4 582 kg ha~(-1)). In maize, water use was reduced by 80.2–120.9 mm ha-1under ZT and PB compared with CT, which ultimately enhanced the economic water-use efficiency by 42.0% and 36.6%, respectively. The ZT and PB showed a 3.5%–31.8% increase in soil organic carbon(SOC) at different soil depths(0–0.45 m), and a 32.3%–39.9% increase in energy productivity compared with CT. Overall, our results showed that CA-based ZT and PB practices coupled with diversified maize-based cropping systems effectively enhanced maize yield and SOC,as well as water-and energy-use efficiency, in northwestern India.     

渭北旱塬玉米田保护性轮耕土壤固碳效果与增产增收效应

针对渭北旱塬降水少、季节性差异大及长期采用单一土壤耕作制度等制约作物增产增收的因素,该研究探索有利于提高旱作农田土壤质量及作物生产能力的轮耕模式。2007-2012年在陕西合阳实施了渭北旱塬春玉米连作田6种不同轮耕模式的长期定位试验,设置以免耕(NT,no-tillage)、深松(ST,sub-soiling)和翻耕(CT,continuous tillage)3种耕作处理组合集成的6种轮耕模式(NT?ST、ST?CT、CT?NT、NT?NT、ST?ST和CT?CT),测定各轮耕模式下春玉米田土壤容重和有机碳储量,分析各轮耕模式下春玉米籽粒产量、水分利用效率和经济效益的变化规律。结果表明:1)在疏松土壤、减少耕作机械碾压次数,改善土壤结构和降低容重等方面,6种轮耕模式以NT?ST表现最佳,ST?ST次之,差异显著(P0.05)。2)6种轮耕模式在0~60 cm土层土壤有机碳平均储量较试验前均增加幅度6.6%~17.4%。NT?NT轮耕模式对增加表层土壤有机碳储量具有优势,且与各处理间差异显著(P0.05)。NT?ST轮耕模式可改变耕层土壤有机碳储量分布特征,进而使土壤营养均匀分布。3)6种轮耕模式5年春玉米籽粒产量、水分利用效率和经济效益综合评价分析,NT?ST轮耕模式最高,分别为9 338.8 kg/hm2、22.6 kg/(hm2·mm)和7 600.5元/hm2;其次是ST?CT,其中NT?ST轮耕模式下春玉米籽粒产量、水分利用效率和经济效益较其他处理增加幅度分别为3.7%~15.7%、17.6%~45.8%和10.1%~40.4%,差异显著(P0.05);且5种轮耕模式下作物籽粒产量、水分利用利用效率和经济效益均高于传统CT?CT模式。综上所述,在6种轮耕模式下,以NT?ST(免耕与深松逐年轮换)轮耕模式下土壤容重和有机碳储量最佳,生产能力最强,水分利用率最高,是渭北旱塬地区春玉米连作田最佳适宜轮耕模式,其次是ST?CT(深松与翻耕逐年轮换)轮耕模式。     

耕作方式对东北春玉米农田土壤水热特征的影响

针对东北春玉米农田春季低温冷害和季节性干旱发生频率高的问题,于2009年-2010年设置3种耕作处理,即传统垄作(LL)、平作播种中耕起垄(PL)和全生育期平作(PP),研究大田条件下耕作方式对土壤水分、土壤温度和玉米产量的影响。2a试验结果表明,耕作方式对0～40cm土层储水量有显著影响,其中PL和PP处理播种时的初始储水量比LL处理高8.7和6.0mm,而苗期则分别高4.1和3.4mm;玉米生育中后期PL和LL处理储水量则呈高于PP处理的趋势。3种耕作方式下土壤温度的差异以苗期为主,即5cm土层的平均温度PL和PP处理显著低于LL处理,但最低温度则以PL和PP处理显著高于LL处理,分别高1.6和1.2℃。总体来看,PL处理不仅可提高玉米苗期土壤的最低温度和耕层土壤储水量,而且可增加中后期土壤积蓄雨水量,促进作物生长发育,因而籽粒产量比LL和PP处理分别高7.6%和6.4%。     

Soil strength, cotton root growth and lint yield in a southeastern USA coastal loamy sand

Inverse linear relationships between soil strength and yield in Coastal Plain soils that have subsurface genetic hard layers have previously been developed for corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under management systems that include annual or biannual non-inversion deep tillage. In a field study in the southeastern Coastal Plains of the USA, we tested this relationship for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown in wide (0.96 m) rows, hypothesizing that root growth and lint yield of cotton would increase with a decrease in soil strength associated with annual deep tillage or cover crop. Root growth and yield were evaluated for treatment combinations of surface tillage or none, deep tillage or none, and rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop or none. Root growth increased (r²=0.66–0.68) as mean or maximum soil strength decreased. Cotton lint yield was not significantly affected by the treatments. Lack of yield response to tillage treatment may have been the result of management practices that employed a small (3 m wide) disk in surface-tilled plots and maintained traffic lanes, both of which help prevent re-compaction. These results indicate that less than annual frequency of subsoiling might be a viable production practice for cotton grown in traditionally wide (0.96 m) rows on a Coastal Plain soil (fine loamy Acrisol–Typic Kandiudult). Thus, annual subsoiling, a practice commonly recommended and used, need not be a blanket recommendation for cotton grown on Coastal Plain soils.     

Tillage and nitrogen effects on growth,nitrogen content,and yield of corn

Abstract

The use of conservation tillage methods, including ridge tillage, has increased dramatically in recent years. At the present time, there is great concern that farmers are applying more nitrogen (N) fertilizer than is environmentally or economically sound. In order to determine if N requirement for optimum yield differs with tillage system, tests were initiated to study tillage and N effects on N content, soil moisture content, and yield of corn (Zea mays L.). The study was established in 1987 on two soil types, an Estelline soil (Pachic Haploboroll) and an Egan soil (Udic Haplustoll), located in eastern South Dakota. Five rates of N (0, 65, 130, 195, and 260 kg ha^?1) were applied to plots managed with 3 tillage systems: chisel plow, moldboard plow, and ridge. On the Estelline soil, in both 1988 and 1989, ridge‐tilled plots contained a greater amount of water in the soil profile at emergence and at mid silk than did plots in the other two tillage systems. Soil moisture content at mid silk was significantly correlated with earleaf N, total N uptake, and grain yield in 1988 and earleaf N and grain yield in 1989. However, the correlation coefficients were higher in 1988 than in 1989. On the Egan soil, there were no significant differences in soil moisture content among tillage systems. On the Estelline soil, corn grain yield was affected by a tillage x N‐rate interaction in 1988. Maximum yield within the ridge system was achieved with the 130 kg ha^?1 rate. In 1989 on the Estelline soil, yield was affected by tillage and N rate, but there was no interaction between factors. When averaged over N rates, yields were 7.1, 6.6, and 6.5 Mg ha^?1 in the ridge, moldboard, and chisel systems, respectively. In 1988 plant total N uptake was greater in the ridge system than the moldboard or chisel systems; in 1989 uptake was affected by N rate alone. On the Egan soil, tillage did not affect soil moisture, total N uptake or grain yield in either year. Corn grain yield increased with increasing N rate up to the 195 kg ha^?1 rate. This study indicates that, on some soil types, ridge tillage can improve soil water holding capacity, N utilization and yield of corn.     

Modifying profile water storage through tillage,herbicide, chemical evaporation retardent and straw mulch and its effect on rainfed chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.)

The influence of tillage, herbicide (paraquat), evaporation retardents (white opaque polythene and hexadecanol) and straw mulch, applied in the post-monsoon pre-seeding period, on soil moisture conservation and yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was studied in a 2-year field experiment. These practices all proved to be useful in conserving more soil moisture in the 180 cm deep soil profile. Opaque polythene conserved most moisture, followed by straw mulch with an average increase of 47 mm (24%) and 32 mm (16%) over the control. Polythene and straw mulch greatly improved moisture in the seeding zone; tillage, hexadecanol and paraquat were also useful. Soil moisture conservation treatments improved plant stand, profile water use, yield and yield components. The effect of treatments varied with crop season rainfall. In the first year, with low rainfall (51 mm), polythene and straw mulch significantly increased the grain yield over other treatments. Hexadecanol, tillage and herbicide also tended to increase yields. In the second, wetter crop season (rainfall 139 mm), the differences in yield between treatments were not significant though the trend was similar to the dry year. Polythene and straw mulch increased yields over the control by 690 and 536 kg/ha in the first year and 399 and 281 kg/ha in the second year. Polythene and hexadecanol being costly, straw mulch, tillage and herbicide offer scope for adoption at field scale.     

不同轮耕方式对渭北旱塬麦玉轮作田土壤物理性状与产量的影响

为研究不同轮作模式对渭北旱作冬小麦?春玉米一年1熟轮作田土壤物理性状和产量的影响,于2007—2014年在陕西省合阳县冬小麦?春玉米轮作田连续7年实施了保护性耕作定位试验,测定和分析了免耕/深松、深松/翻耕、翻耕/免耕、连续免耕、连续深松和连续翻耕6种轮耕模式下麦田0~60 cm土层物理性状、0~200 cm土层土壤湿度和小麦产量的变化。结果表明:1)不同轮耕模式0~40 cm土层土壤容重、孔隙度和田间持水量差异显著,其中以免耕/深松效果最显著;0~60 cm土层免耕/深松轮耕处理平均田间持水量较连续翻耕处理提高12.9%;2)轮耕对土壤团聚体特性影响明显,免耕/深松0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量(R0.25)最高,结构体破碎率和不稳定团粒指数(ELT)最低,水稳性均重直径(WMWD)最高,水稳性和力稳性团聚体分形维数(D)均最低;3)小麦生育期间免耕/深松处理0~200 cm土层土壤蓄水量和小麦产量较连续翻耕分别增加17.7 mm和9.5%。综合可知,轮耕有利于耕层土壤物理结构改善,免耕/深松更有利于耕层土壤大团聚体形成和土壤结构稳定,利于土壤蓄水保墒和作物增产,为渭北旱塬区麦玉轮作田较适宜的轮耕模式。     

翻耕与压实对坡地土壤溶质迁移过程的影响

采用田间模拟降雨试验方法,研究地表翻耕与压实处理对坡地产流产沙及溶质迁移特征的影响。结果表明：与压实处理比较,翻耕坡地初始产流时间延长近3倍,降雨向土壤水转化率提高10％以上,产沙量增加67％;翻耕处理明显降低溶解态磷（DP）和泥沙浸提态磷（SEP）的流失量,但磷素流失形态（DP与SEP的比值）并未显著变化,始终以颗粒态形式流失为主;翻耕处理显著改变了溴的流失形态,溶解态溴（Br）与泥沙浸提态溴（SBr）流失量比值减少了72％;翻耕处理提高了溴（或硝态氮）的淋失概率,增大污染地下水体的潜在危险。因此,合理配置坡地免耕或翻耕措施,有机结合其他农艺耕作措施,对减少坡地水土及养分流失具有重要实践意义。     

Influence of wheat residue management on irrigated corn grain production in a reduced tillage system

Management of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues for corn (Zea mays L.) planting is an important issue in southern parts of Iran where these two irrigated crops are consecutively grown. Concerns have been raised in recent years over the burning of the crop residues by farmers in these areas. A 2-year (2001–2002) field experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of irrigated corn planted, after burning wheat residues followed by conventional tillage (CT), after residue removal followed by CT, after soil incorporation of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of residue followed by chisel plow, disk harrow, and row crop planter equipped with row cleaner. The CT operations consisted of mollboard plowing followed by two times disk harrowing. Treatments had significant effects on corn grain yield, biological yield, and leaf area index. The highest grain yield (15.73 t ha⁻¹) and grains per ear (709.3) were obtained when 25–50% of wheat residues were soil incorporated and the seeds were sown with planter equipped with row cleaner in both years as compared with conventional tillage practices. It is recommended that complete residue removal or burning should be avoided; hence for successful corn production after wheat, residue management techniques that reduce residue level in the row area should be implemented.     

机械化生态沃土耕作模式提高土壤质量及作物产量

为了解决小麦玉米两作区连年翻耕造成的土壤养分、水分流失、土壤沙化以及长期不耕作不利于作物高产等问题,将翻耕、旋耕、深松等适当结合,建立一种械化生态沃土耕作模式,设置一定的周期,周期内对土壤进行适度的耕作,并与连年翻耕和连年免耕模式进行试验对比。试验结果表明:5 a周期内机械化生态沃土耕作模式可以显著提高各层土壤有机质含量,0~10 cm提高最大达0.2%;连年免耕在前3 a可以显著提高O~10 cm土壤有机质含量,后2 a有所减少;连年翻耕在前3a可以显著提高20~30 cm土壤有机质含量,后2a显著减少。土壤含水率表现为机械化生态沃土连年免耕连年翻耕,随着时间变化,差异越来越显著。0~10 cm土壤容重在5%水平上机械化生态沃土耕作模式和连年免耕显著低于连年翻耕。机械化生态沃土耕作模式下作物产量显著高于连年免耕和连年翻耕,2014年增产优势最明显.比连年翻耕小麦增产30.8%,玉米增产28.4%,比连年免耕小麦增产22.5%,玉米增产20.9%。