基于DEM-MBD耦合算法的振动深松土壤扰动过程分析

为深入分析振动深松过程中耕层土壤扰动过程,该研究采用离散元法(Discrete Element Method,DEM)与多体动力学(Multi-Body Dynamics,MBD)耦合算法对振动深松作业过程进行仿真分析.采用MBD构建拖拉机-振动深松机-土壤系统仿真模型,利用DEM建立耕作土壤的离散元模型,考虑土壤颗粒...     

基于离散元法的凸圆刃式深松铲减阻效果仿真分析与试验

针对深松作业阻力大、能耗高等问题,该文在深松铲铲尖顶部设计了一种能有效减阻降耗的凸圆刃。以安装凸圆刃的凸圆刃式深松铲为研究对象,建立了土壤模型。为提高土壤模型的准确性,选用非线性粘结弹性塑形接触模型(edinburgh elasto-plastic adhesion model,EEPA),对凸圆刃式深松铲进行耕作阻力虚拟仿真。利用插件将颗粒与深松铲接触作用力导出,分析凸圆刃式深松铲应力和形变,校验其结构强度;采用EDEM软件分析不同耕深和速度对深松耕作阻力的影响,并以国标深松铲为比较对象,分析了凸圆刃式深松铲的减阻效果;通过田间试验验证了土壤模型和凸圆刃式深松铲设计的准确性和可行性。田间试验结果表明,与国标深松铲相比,凸圆刃式深松铲耕作阻力平均降低了10.24%。仿真结果与实测值较为接近,数值误差在3%～10%,证明土壤模型基本符合土壤的力学特性,能近似代替真实的土壤环境。该研究证明了采用离散元法分析深松耕作阻力可行性,可为进一步优化深松铲结构提供参考。     

推土板表面形态对土壤动态行为影响的离散元模拟

土壤行为的变化过程直接受触土部件结构的影响，研究不同表面推土板作用下土壤动态行为的变化规律和影响因素对于触土部件的优化设计具有重要意义。根据液桥对土壤微观力学结构的影响，在传统离散单元法理论的基础上，建立了土壤颗粒接触非线性力学模型，并对光滑和波纹形表面形态推土板前端土壤的动态行为进行了离散元模拟。结果表明：离散元模拟不仅准确再现了实验中表面形态对板面前端土壤动态行为影响的定性和定量结果，而且通过离散元细观分析从土壤内部土壤颗粒运动合理解释了土壤宏观形态的变化规律以及推土板表面形态对土壤动态行为的影响，即波纹形表面使板面前端土壤波动频率变大，而波动幅度变小。该研究为土壤－机械相互作用分析提供了新的研究思路和手段。     

基于离散元非线性弹塑性接触模型的免耕土壤参数标定

为了进一步提升基于离散元法对免耕作业机具与土壤互作关系研究的准确性,以华北麦玉两熟区免耕壤土为研究对象,基于离散元软件（Discrete Element Modeling,DEM）扩展的The Edinburgh Elasto-Plastic Adhesion非线性弹塑性接触模型开展常年免耕农田土壤离散元仿真模型参数标定研究。应用Plackett-Burman 设计敏感性分析试验,选择对土壤压板试验沉陷量影响显著的关键参数（即土壤颗粒恢复系数、土壤颗粒-颗粒静摩擦系数、土壤颗粒表面能和土壤颗粒-颗粒塑性变形比）,以土壤压板试验沉陷量为评价指标,应用Box-Behnken 试验建立了沉陷量与4个显著性参数的二次多项式回归模型,以物理试验得到的实际沉陷量6.2 mm为目标值,对显著性参数进行寻优,得到最优组合为：土壤颗粒恢复系数为0.47,土壤颗粒-颗粒间静摩擦系数为0.62,土壤颗粒表面能为6.12 J/m2,土壤颗粒塑性变形比为0.41。最后通过标定优化的参数进行土壤颗粒应力传递试验,与室内试验结果对比发现,仿真的土壤颗粒接触传力特性与实际土壤压实过程中应力传递差别较小,误差范围在9.21%以内,并对比分析仿真和实测的土壤应力传递特性曲线的拟合情况,两者之间的决定系数R2为0.91,表明两条曲线的拟合相似度较高,验证了免耕土壤参数标定的准确可靠,参数标定后的离散元免耕土壤模型精确度高。研究可为快速构建免耕模式下的土壤离散元模型及免耕农机装备优化提供技术支撑。     

葡萄藤防寒土与清土部件相互作用的离散元仿真参数标定

为系统地研究中国北方地区沙壤土质地的葡萄藤防寒土及其与清土机清土部件常用材料(Q235钢、橡胶)相互作用的离散元仿真参数,以构建准确的土壤离散元仿真模型,该文选用整合延迟弹性模型(hysteretic spring contact model,HSCM)和线性粘附模型(liner cohesion model,LCM)作为土壤颗粒间的接触模型;基于土壤堆积试验,以土壤颗粒间恢复系数、静摩擦系数、滚动摩擦系数和土壤粘附能量密度为因素,以土壤堆积角为指标,利用EDEM进行通用旋转中心组合模拟试验,采用Design-Expert软件对试验数据进行回归分析,以实测的土壤堆积角作为优化目标值,获得土壤颗粒间的最佳接触参数组合;利用土壤屈服试验获得HSCM模型参数;基于斜面滑动法原理,利用倾斜板试验台测得土壤与Q235钢和橡胶之间的静摩擦系数,并以此为基础,采用土壤滑落试验,以滑动摩擦角为响应值,对土壤颗粒与Q235钢和橡胶之间的恢复系数和滚动摩擦系数进行寻优,得到最优解参数组合。为验证标定优化的离散元模型参数的准确性,采用刮土板土槽试验和仿真试验进行对比分析,获得刮土板在土槽试验和仿真试验中的水平前进阻力分别为228.36 N和213.79 N,两者之间的相对误差为6.38%,表明仿真模型中土壤的物理力学特性与实际土壤基本一致,验证了葡萄藤防寒土离散元仿真参数标定结果和研究方法准确可靠。研究结果可为基于离散元法研制适用于北方地区沙壤土质地的葡萄藤防寒土清土机提供理论基础和技术支撑。     

用颗粒离散元法模拟料仓卸料过程

采用颗粒离散元法模拟了无粘软颗粒和粘连性硬颗粒在平底仓卸料全过程,并与已完成的无粘硬颗粒结果比较。发现颗粒的材料模量对卸料特性影响甚小,而颗粒表面粘连性对卸料流率有显著的迟滞作用。在大出口情况,结拱不易形成,并出现颗粒自由下落现象。     

基于离散元法的旋耕刀受力分析

为分析旋耕刀在有秸秆覆盖和无秸秆覆盖土壤中工作时的受力情况,该文采用离散元法构建土壤-旋耕刀相互作用和秸秆-土壤-旋耕刀相互作用的三维离散元模型。在土槽试验中采用扭矩传感器测量旋耕刀所受扭矩,在仿真中导出每个时刻旋耕刀受到的扭矩和力数据,试验和仿真都在恒定前进速度0.222 m/s和耕作深度100 mm及4种转速77、100、123、146 r/min下进行。结果显示旋耕刀最大扭矩值随着转速增加呈现增加的趋势;在无秸秆覆盖土壤中,试验值与仿真值的相对误差为16.3%;在有秸秆覆盖土壤中二者相对误差为19.1%。耕作过程中旋耕刀所受合力、水平力及侧向力都呈现先升后降的趋势;合力、水平力和垂直力的最大值,都随着转速的增加而增加。旋耕刀刚开始切土时,在有秸秆覆盖的土壤中受到的阻力总比无秸秆覆盖的土壤中所受阻力要大;之后旋耕刀在有秸秆覆盖的土壤中受到的最大力要大于在无秸秆覆盖的土壤中受到的最大力。仿真的水平力和垂直力与旋耕刀理论模型计算得到的旋耕刀水平力和垂直力变化一致。利用离散元法研究旋耕刀切土过程,对探讨刀具与土壤的相互作用机理及设计和优化高秸秆含量土壤中工作的耕作机械具有重要意义。     

油菜机直播微垄种床制备过程旋耕后土壤离散元参数标定

针对油菜直播机微垄种床制备过程离散元仿真缺乏旋耕后土壤颗粒模型、无有效接触参数、数值模拟不准确等问题，该研究开展了旋耕后土壤离散元接触参数标定与试验。基于土壤塑限，确定接仿真触模型为Hertze-Mindlin（no slip），根据油菜直播机旋耕后的土样信息，利用EinScan-Pro三维扫描仪和EDEM颗粒填充功能，重建土壤颗粒并生成考虑颗粒形状和不同粒径质量占比的离散元颗粒模型；以堆积角为目标，通过二水平析因试验分析静摩擦、滚动摩擦、碰撞恢复系数的显著性，对显著因素进行最陡爬坡试验缩小求解范围，再通过二次正交旋转回归试验求解较优参数组合为：碰撞恢复系数0.350，静摩擦系数0.351，滚动摩擦系数0.257。使用PIVlab工具和Trimble TX8三维激光扫描仪得到微垄种床制备装置田间作业时土块颗粒运动速度和作业后地貌，并与离散元仿真结果进行对比。结果表明：在微垄制备的贯入包络和成形回落阶段，土壤颗粒运动速度与仿真结果一致，最大误差为0.10 m/s；微垄距误差随腹板数量增加而增大，误差为8.25%，标定参数准确。研究结果可为油菜微垄种床制备机具触土部件机理探究和结构改进提供参考。     

秸秆留茬对水田耕作影响仿真分析

秸秆的留存关系到机械对土壤耕作的作业效率。现有的研究绝大多数仅仅考虑还田秸秆,而没有考虑留茬秸秆的影响。为研究土壤耕作中留茬秸秆的影响,本文借助于EDEM离散元仿真软件,建立水稻土-旋耕刀-留茬秸秆相互作用的仿真模型。对带三种留茬秸秆(无留茬、留茬50 mm、留茬100 mm)的水稻田进行三种耕作深度(100 mm、150 mm、200 mm)的旋耕作业进行仿真,并对旋耕过程中留茬秸秆(#12、#13、#22)位移、土壤破碎情况、旋耕刀受阻力进行了分析。分析结果表明,由于旋耕刀叶片的翻耕,导致土壤和秸秆颗粒的运动比较复杂。秸秆留茬高度、位置不同,旋耕作业中秸秆的运动、位移也不同。同时,留茬秸秆会与土壤颗粒发生碰撞,导致土壤颗粒多次位移,进而影响耕作效果。另外,留茬秸秆的存在还会影响旋耕刀耕作过程中的受阻力情况,且留茬越高,旋耕刀表现出受阻力越大的趋势。本文通过建立土壤-旋耕刀-留茬秸秆相互作用模型,旨在说明留茬秸秆对耕作过程的影响,对秸秆留茬工作提供一定的借鉴。     

内充式排种器工作过程和性能的离散元法仿真分析

为建立一种排种器设计的新方法,以内充式排种器和小麦种子为研究对象,由排种器的CAD（computer aided design,计算机辅助设计）模型建立了该排种器的二维离散元法分析模型,采用圆弧组合的方法建立了小麦种子的二维颗粒模型,采用自主研制的二维离散元法软件,分析了该排种器的工作过程及性能。同时将排种器台架试验结果与离散元法分析结果进行了比较,两者基本一致,初步证明采用离散元法分析内充式排种器工作过程和性能的可行性,为内充式排种器的研究和优化设计建立了一种新方法。     

Modelling tillage translocation using step, linear-plateau and exponential functions

The distance over which soil is displaced and mixed during tillage has important implications for the understanding the dynamics of soil variability within complex soil-landscapes. In two preceding studies of tillage translocation, tillage was observed to displace soil over a length of approximately 1 m following single passes of four tillage implements (chisel plough, mouldboard plough, tandem disc and field cultivator), and over a length of approximately 2 m per sequence of conventional tillage (one pass of mouldboard plough, two passes of tandem disc and one pass of field cultivator). Using data from these studies step, linear-plateau and exponential functions were assessed for their ability to estimate the magnitude of translocation and the redistribution pattern of soil within the till-layer, and to predict the redistribution pattern of soil within the till-layer. On average, step, linear-plateau and exponential models estimated 100.0%, 100.2% and 102.5% of the magnitude of translocation and 76%, 88% and 93% of the soil redistribution pattern, respectively. Based on these results, it was concluded that linear-plateau and exponential functions are suitable models of tillage translocation. The exponential model was superior to the step and linear-plateau models, and an improvement over the existing diffusion model.     

Maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil properties as affected by no tillage in the black soils of China

A four-year tillage experiment on maize was conducted in the high latitude region of Northeast of China. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different field tillage practices on maize grain yield, soil physical properties, and soil water and temperature dynamics in Northeast of China. The tillage practices included moldboard plow tillage (MOT), rotary tillage (ROT), reduced tillage (RET), combined tillage (COT), and no tillage (NOT). The surface soil water content at depths of 0–20 cm was higher under NOT compared with other tillage practices, but not different at the deeper soil depths in 2011. The soil temperatures under NOT and RET were lower than those under moldboard plow tillage and ROT at depths of 5 and 15 cm, respectively, measured at 9:00 am in 2005. From the hourly dynamics of soil temperature, the differences among the tillage practices mainly appeared during the daytime (from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm). Among all the practices, the average daily soil temperature under ROT was the highest, while that under NOT was the lowest. MOT, ROT, and RET had higher soil accumulative infiltration compared with NOT and COT. The surface soil bulk density under NOT was higher than or equal to that under the other four tillage practices. The maize yields under NOT were the lowest among all the tillage practices for three years straight. Meanwhile, the yields under MOT were the highest, which were about 47%, 61%, and 38% higher than those under NOT. NOT practice is not recommended for use in spring-planted maize under the high latitude humid cool climate Mollisol region in Northeast of China.     

东北地区不同耕作方式农田土壤风蚀特征

为探究不同耕作方式农田土壤风蚀特征,揭示风蚀对表层土壤理化性质及养分含量的影响,以东北地区典型农田土壤(黑土和风沙土)为研究对象,通过野外集沙仪定点监测与室内理化分析等方法,对不同耕作方式(垄作、免耕)和不同地表覆盖措施(无覆盖、留茬、覆盖)下的土壤风蚀特征展开研究。结果表明:(1)风沙土的输沙量显著高于黑土,在0—100cm高度范围内风沙土的输沙量平均为黑土的168倍。随高度的上升输沙量急剧减少,其中0—10cm输沙量最大,占总输沙量的50%以上,40cm以上则无明显风蚀物;(2)不同耕作方式下,免耕农田土壤风蚀输沙量较垄作样地减少了66.0%~94.1%;而相同耕作措施下,不同地表覆盖的输沙量表现为无覆盖>留茬>覆盖,与无覆盖相比,留茬及秸秆覆盖下的输沙量可以减少90.3%~99.4%;(3)受风蚀影响,表层土壤颗粒、有机质及养分流失严重,其中风蚀物的砂粒含量是表层土壤的1.06~1.42倍,且10—20cm风蚀物中有机质、全氮和全磷含量均比表层土壤高;(4)通过修正风蚀方程(RWEQ)估算得出,垄作无覆盖(RTNF)风蚀模数高达181.7~86582.9t/(km^2·a),风蚀剧烈,而免耕覆盖(NTF)的风蚀模数仅为9.89t/(km^2·a),为微度风蚀。研究显示垄作及无覆盖方式下农田土壤风蚀程度剧烈,加剧了表层土壤颗粒和养分流失的风险,而免耕和地表覆盖能有效缓解风蚀危害。     

Tillage and water erosion on different landscapes in the northern North American Great Plains evaluated using Cs technique and soil erosion models

Total soil erosion is the integrated result of all forms of soil erosion — wind, water and tillage. It has been recognized that in topographically complex landscapes, individual soil erosion processes and their interactions all contribute towards total soil erosion. In this study, two field sites, representing different landscapes in the northern region of the North American Great Plains, were examined. Water and tillage erosions were estimated using the established water and tillage erosion models and total soil erosion was estimated using the ¹³⁷Cs technique.We determined that the patterns of water and tillage erosion across the landscapes are mainly dependent on topographic features and they are fundamentally different within topographically complex landscapes. On the slope of undulating landscapes, tillage and water erosion both contribute considerably to total soil erosion. On the knoll of hummocky landscapes, tillage erosion dominates the pattern of total soil erosion. Tested against the Cs measurements, the patterns of total soil erosion cannot be well estimated by water or tillage erosion model alone unless one of the two erosion processes predominate over the other erosion processes. Combining water and tillage erosion models generally provides better estimations of total soil erosion than the component models on their own. Most soil properties and crop yield were found to be closely correlated with total soil erosion. For a given erosion process, the soil erosion patterns estimated using different models with reasonable parameter settings were similar to each other. However, it is necessary to choose an optimal model and to obtain accurate parameters for the purpose of accurate assessments of the erosion rates.     

Nitrous oxide evolution from structurally intact soil as influenced by tillage and soil water content

Among farmers there is a growing interest for adoption of reduced tillage practices, which has accentuated the need to understand the consequences for soil nutrient dynamics and losses. A laboratory study was conducted with structurally intact soil cores collected from two depths, 0–4 and 14–18 cm, within tillage experiments on contrasting soil types, both experiments with soil under mouldboard ploughing (MP) or shallow tillage (ST). The soil cores were adjusted to one of seven matric potentials ranging from ?1500 to ?15 hPa. The extent and regulation of nitrous oxide (N₂O) evolution as a function of tillage, depth and soil characteristics was studied by measurement of N₂O and CO₂ evolution rates, as well as nitrifying and denitrifying potentials, and subsequent data analysis by multiple linear regression models. At both sites, compaction of ST soil below the depth of tillage was significant. The vertical distribution of N₂O evolution was different in MP and ST soil, but no main effect of tillage on N₂O evolution was observed. Effects of soil variables on N₂O evolution were analysed using volumetric water content, water-filled pore space, or relative gas diffusivity (RD) to represent the effect of soil water. Using RD weakened interactions with tillage and C availability and strengthened main effects, suggesting that RD may provide a more general representation of the water effect. At 0–4 cm depth, N₂O evolution was related to NO₃^? availability in the soil with 5.1% C, but to C availability in the soil with 1.5% C. The contrasting patterns of dependencies in the different environments support the interpretation of reduced tillage and soil water content as indirect controls, via diffusional constraints, of N₂O evolution.     

Effects of tillage practices combined with mucuna fallow on soil erosion and water dynamics on Ishigaki Island,Japan

Abstract

This study was conducted on a sloping field at the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Okinawa Subtropical Station, Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, to evaluate the effects of zero tillage farming combined with mucuna fallow as a cover crop on soil erosion and water dynamics. Two fallow systems (natural and mucuna) in combination with two soil tillage treatments (zero tillage and conventional tillage) were imposed on three sloping fields (2.0°, 3.5° and 5.0°). A sorghum crop (Sorghum bicolor (L) moench) was planted after the soil tillage treatment. Soil loss for zero tillage farming combined with mucuna fallow was equivalent to only 3% of that for the conventional tillage farming with natural fallow. Runoff water was also reduced by between 74% and 77% when compared with the conventional tillage system with natural fallow. These results indicate that zero tillage with mucuna fallow is a very effective measure for the control of soil erosion and water runoff. Moreover, this farming system improved water infiltration during both the fallow and the sorghum cropping periods. For the zero tillage plot, water loss as deep percolation increased 1.6-fold compared with that for the conventional farming under heavy rainfall conditions. It is expected that under less rainfall areas or seasons, the effects of zero tillage farming combined with the mucuna cover crop may be more pronounced on water runoff control and, therefore, may greatly improve soil water conditions.     

民勤绿洲灌区保护性耕作对土壤风蚀与土壤物理性质的影响

通过春小麦田间试验,以传统耕作为对照,设置免耕不覆盖、免耕秸秆覆盖、立茬和残茬压倒4种保护性耕作处理,研究河西绿洲灌区保护性耕作下土壤风蚀与土壤结构的关系,分析了田间输沙量与土壤团聚体、<0.01mm物理性粘粒、<0.01mm分散性粘粒、分散系数随年限增加的变化及其相关关系。结果表明：与传统耕作相比,保护性耕作能显著减少输沙量；>0.05mm各级团聚体随年限的增加基本无显著变化,但保护性耕作大团聚体(>0.25mm)有增大趋势,微团聚体(0.25-0.05mm)有减少趋势；保护性耕作实施2年后,<0.05mm土粒占比除立茬处理减少不显著外,其他保护性耕作处理均显著减少；试验第3年,传统耕作<0.01mm物理性粘粒较保护性耕作有减少趋势；免耕不覆盖、立茬和残茬茬倒处理<0.01mm分散性粘粒含量随年限的增加显著下降,免耕秸秆覆盖处理变化不显著；免耕不覆盖和残茬压倒处理土壤分散系数随年限的增加显著下降,免耕秸秆覆盖和立茬下降不显著；保护性耕作实施的第3年,各保护性耕作处理分散系数出现减小的趋势。输沙量与>1mm团聚体、<0.05mm土粒和<0.01mm分散性粘粒含量都有极显著的负相关关系,与0.25-0.05mm团聚体呈极显著正相关关系。综上所述,保护性耕作能促进土壤微结构的改善,土壤微结构的改善有利于土壤大团聚体的形成。     

轮耕对双季稻田土壤结构及水贮量的影响

该文针对南方稻田长期免耕存在的耕层变浅、下层土壤紧实等问题,进行了土壤轮耕效应的研究。试验选择双季稻区连续7 a免耕稻田,2006年4月设置免耕、翻耕和旋耕3种耕作处理。2007年4月将翻耕、旋耕稻田一半免耕,剩下一半继续翻耕、旋耕。每年早稻和晚稻采用同一耕作措施。研究结果表明,长期免耕表层0～5 cm土壤体积质量呈降低趋势,而下层10～20 cm呈增加趋势。翻耕、旋耕相对于长期免耕能够有效降低下层土壤体积质量,同时,提高下层毛管孔隙度。翻耕、旋耕后免耕下层土壤体积质量呈增加趋势,而毛管孔隙度呈降低趋势。长期免耕后,翻耕、旋耕能够有效增加耕层（0～20 cm）土壤水贮量,特别是在土壤含水率偏低时尤为显著,2007年翻耕、旋耕较长期免耕分别高了12.9%和20.7%,而翻耕、旋耕后免耕呈降低趋势。研究还显示,各轮耕耕层土壤质量含水率与体积质量呈显著线性负相关,与毛管孔隙度呈显著线性正相关。总之,长期免耕后,翻耕、旋耕措施通过改变耕层土壤结构,进而提高稻田土壤水贮量。     

基于线结构激光传感器的土壤表面粗糙度测量方法研究

土壤表面粗糙度是农作物种植、灌溉和收获等田间管理必须考虑的作业参数,也是精准农业发展中亟待解决的关键问题之一。针对土壤表面粗糙度缺乏快速检测手段的问题,提出一种基于线结构激光传感器的土壤表面粗糙度测量方法。利用半导体红光激光器、CCD工业相机、计算机及支架等构建测量系统,采集土壤样本的表面图像数据,借助MATLAB获取其三维点云模型,实现土壤表面的三维曲面建模并计算曲面面积。定义土壤表面三维曲面面积与其平面面积的比值为表征土壤表面粗糙度的量,并通过对比4个颗粒度土壤样本的该值范围,确定了判别样本表面粗糙度的阈值。利用3种土槽旋耕土壤表面样本对系统和算法进行验证,比值处于1.214～1.939之间,检测结果均与样本实际特征相符合。该方法能够检测和判断土壤表面的颗粒粗糙程度。     

Tillage effects on compaction, earthworms and other soil quality indicators in Hungary

The philosophy toward tillage throughout the last century in Hungary can be characterized as a fight against extreme climatic and economic situations. The ‘Hungarian reasonable tillage’ approach that was promoted by Cserháti at the end of the 1800s was aimed at reducing tillage without increasing the risk of crop failure in arable fields. Recently, new tillage trends and systems have been introduced because of the rise in energy prices and because of the need to cut production costs, conserve soil and water resources and protect the environment. In Hungarian relation, the rationalized plowing, loosening and mulching systems are counted to the new tillage solutions. There are new steps in the sowing methods too, such as seedbed preparation and plant in one pass, till and plant, mulch-till and plant and direct drilling, which are environment capable, throughout improving soil condition and avoiding the environment harms. The applicability of various soil conservation tillage methods is currently being tested in research projects and discussed in workshops throughout the country. In this paper, soil quality problems such as compaction, trends in soil tillage, and factors affecting soil quality or condition as well as improvement and maintenance are summarized. The data show that annual disking and plowing causes subsoil compaction at the depth of tillage within 3 years and that the compacted layer expanded both in surface and deeper layers after the 5th year. Soil quality deterioration by tillage-pans was improved by subsoiling and maintained by direct drilling and planting soil-loosening catch crops. Within a loam and a sandy loam soil there were close correlations between earthworm activity and soil quality. Earthworm numbers increased on undisturbed but noncompacted soils and soils that included stubble residues remaining on the surface, but did not increase on soils that were deteriorated by tillage-pans or left bare by the absence of mulch. Our goal for the new millennium, is to use only enough tillage to create and maintain harmony between soil conservation, soil quality and crop production.