Stratification of nutrients in soil for different tillage regimes and cotton rotations

Crop management practices, especially tillage and rotation, can impact soil nutrient stratification, crop growth, and yield. The objectives of this study were to determine the soil-profile distribution of plant-available nutrients in four depth intervals from 0 to 90 cm for different cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping systems, tillage regimes, and N fertilization rates in a south-central Texas silty clay loam soil after 5 years of treatment imposition. Distribution of nutrients in the soil profile varied between cropping systems (continuous cotton monoculture and cotton–corn (Zea mays L.) rotation), conventional (CT) and reduced tillage (RT), and N fertilization rates (0, 80, and 160 kg N ha⁻¹). Plant-available P showed the greatest stratification and was 426% higher at 0–15 cm than at 60–90 cm, while SO₄ had the greatest increase (42%) with depth. The percentage decrease from 0–15 to 60–90 cm was 47% and 147% for NO₃ and K, and 76%, 12%, 43%, and 232% for Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn, respectively. In contrast, Ca and Mg concentrations increased 22% and 15%, respectively, from 0–15 to 60–90 cm. Increasing the N fertilization rate increased plant-available NO₃ and SO₄ but decreased K, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations. Inclusion of corn in rotation with cotton decreased plant-available Mn, Fe, and Cu from 15 to 90 cm relative to continuous cotton at 160 kg N ha⁻¹. For unfertilized soil, rotation increased micronutrient concentrations at 15–60 cm compared to continuous cotton. On average, CT cotton–corn had significantly lower K, Ca, Mg, Na, and SO₄ concentrations than CT continuous cotton. Reduced tillage and diversified cropping systems altered the distribution of plant-available nutrients in soil relative to CT and continuous cotton. In fact, RT increased plant-available P and NO₃ in surface soil, which may have contributed to higher lint yields than CT continuous cotton.     

Duration of tillage management affects carbon and phosphorus stratification in phosphatic Paleudalfs

Surface accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) under conservation tillage has significant effects on stratification of other nutrients, on crop productivity and in ameliorating the greenhouse effect via atmospheric CO₂ sequestration. A measure of SOC stratification relative to deeper soil layers has been proposed as a soil quality index. Our objective was to determine the effects of the duration of tillage practices upon the SOC and extractable P distribution with depth in Maury silt loams (Typic Paleudalfs) at similar levels of corn (Zea mays L.) productivity without P fertilization. Soil samples (0–20.0 cm in 2.5 cm increments) were collected under moldboard tillage (MT), chisel tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) and in surrounding tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) sods selected from three tillage experiments (1–2-, 8- and 29-year durations) in Kentucky. SOC stratification was greater under conservation tillage (CT and NT) and sods than under MT. SOC and soil-test-extractable P stratification were positively related. Increasing the duration under NT caused the thickness of C stratification to increase. In NT soils, C stratification ratio (CSR) approached CSR in the nearby long-term sods with time. Conservation tillage rapidly promoted the occurrence of CSR greater than 2 while MT always resulted in values lower than 2. The rapid initial change in CSR suggests characterization of thin soil layers (i.e. 2.5 cm depth increments) is desirable under conservation tillage.     

Soil fertility distributions in long-term no-till, chisel/disk and moldboard plow/disk systems

In permanent no-till (NT), soil nutrients are no longer mixed into the topsoil as with moldboard plow/disking (MD), whereas chisel/disking (CD) does limited mixing. Surface broadcast and/or banded nutrient applications may result in high and low fertility zones in permanent NT, with possible implications for soil sampling and nutrient placement. We investigated effects of 25 years of continuous NT, CD and MD with corn planted in the same row locations on organic matter (SOM), pH-H₂O and Mehlich-3 extractable phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Vertical distribution at 0–5, 5–10 and 10–15 cm depths was measured as well as horizontal distributions across corn rows. We observed higher SOM and P in NT and CD than in MD in the 0–15 cm layer. SOM content was greatest in the top 5 cm in NT, but declined sharply with depth. SOM content in CD was not as high at the surface as in NT, but did not decline as fast as in NT. SOM was uniform but low throughout the 0–15 cm depth of MD. In all tillage systems, SOM did not vary across rows. Soil pH was higher in the 0–5 cm layer of NT than the deeper layers but the reverse was true in the CD or MD treatments. Concentrations of P, K and Ca were higher in the surface 0–5 cm than 10–15 cm depth of all tillage systems, but most strikingly in NT and CD. Starter fertilizer injection resulted in higher P and lower pH in the injection zone of all tillage treatments, but most notably in NT. The pH was depressed under the band of side-dressed nitrogen with all tillage systems. Potassium accumulated in the rows of the previous crop, probably because it leached from crop residue that accumulated there. Tillage did not affect Mg distribution. Optimal nutrient management in NT should take account of horizontal and vertical nutrient and pH distributions. Samples in long-term NT could potentially be taken to a shallower depth if calibration curves are available. To avoid underestimating P and K availability or overestimate lime needs, high P or decreased pH bands should be avoided, as well as crop rows. Possibilities to reduce P and K applications with banding need more investigation. Results show the importance of regular liming in NT to maintain surface pH in the optimum range, but also show that lime does not have to be incorporated.     

No-till effects on organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity and nutrient distribution in a Luvisol in the semi-arid subtropics

No-till (NT) system for grain cropping is increasingly being practised in Australia. While benefits of NT, accompanied by stubble retention, are almost universal for soil erosion control, effects on soil organic matter and other soil properties are inconsistent, especially in a semi-arid, subtropical environment. We examined the effects of tillage, stubble and fertilizer management on the distribution of organic matter and nutrients in the topsoil (0–30 cm) of a Luvisol in a semi-arid, subtropical environment in southern Queensland, Australia. Measurements were made at the end of 9 years of NT, reduced till (RT) and conventional till (CT) practices, in combination with stubble retention and fertilizer N (as urea) application strategies for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping.

In the top 30 cm depth, the mean amount of organic C increased slightly after 9 years, although it was similar under all tillage practices, while the amount of total N declined under CT and RT practices, but not under NT. In the 0–10 cm depth, the amounts of organic C and total N were significantly greater under NT than under RT or CT. No-till had 1.94 Mg ha⁻¹ (18%) more organic C and 0.20 Mg ha⁻¹ (21%) more total N than CT. In the 0–30 cm depth, soil under NT practice had 290 kg N ha⁻¹ more than that under the CT practice, most of it in the top 10 cm depth. Microbial biomass N was similar for all treatments. Under NT, there was a concentration gradient in organic C, total N and microbial biomass N, with concentrations decreasing from 0–2.5 to 5–10 cm depths.

Soil pH was not affected by tillage or stubble treatments in the 0–10 cm depth, but decreased significantly from 7.5 to 7.2 with N fertilizer application. Exchangeable Mg and Na concentration, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable Na percentage in the 0–10 cm depth were greater under CT than under RT and NT, while exchangeable K and bicarbonate-extractable P concentrations were greater under NT than under CT.

Therefore, NT and RT practices resulted in significant changes in soil organic C and N and exchangeable cations in the topsoil of a Luvisol, when compared with CT. The greater organic matter accumulation close to the soil surface and solute movement in these soils under NT practice would be beneficial to soil chemical and physical status and crop production in the long-term, whereas the concentration of nutrients such as P and K in surface layers may reduce their availability to crops.     

Long-term effects of tillage on the availability of iron, copper, manganese, and zinc in a Spanish Vertisol

Organic matter accumulation and increased microbial activity under no-till can affect the dynamics of some essential micronutrients for plants. The main purpose of this work was to study the long-term effect of tillage on the availability of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in a calcareous soil from Southern Spain. To this end, nutrient availability in surface soil (0–5-cm depth) subjected to a long-term tillage experiment (21 years) was evaluated via pot experiments and chemical tests involving DTPA extraction (as availability index) and sequential chemical fractionation of Mn and Fe.Soil organic matter (SOM) content and microbial activity (estimated by the β-glucosidase method) were found to be significantly higher under no-till (NT) than under conventional (CT) or minimum tillage (MT). Also, DTPA extractable Mn, Cu, and Zn, and citrate–bicarbonate extractable Mn (Mn_cb), were all higher under NT than under CT and MT, the differences being related to the increase in SOM as revealed by the correlation of Mn, Cu, and Zn extractable with DTPA and SOM (r = 0.87, P < 0.001; r = 0.8, P < 0.01, and r = 0.86, P < 0.001, respectively), and that between Mn_cb and SOM (r = 0.87, P < 0.001). However, the increased extractability resulted in no increased concentrations of these nutrients in plants. Moreover, the Mn concentration in the last expanded leaf was significantly lower with NT than with CT, which can be ascribed at least partly to an increased microbial activity under NT as revealed by the negative correlation between Mn in plants and β-glucosidase activity in soil (r = −0.71, P < 0.01). The Fe concentration in plants was not affected by soil tillage; also, it was only related to citrate–ascorbate extractable Fe (r = 0.69, P < 0.05), which exposes the contribution of poorly crystalline Fe oxides in soil to Fe nutrition in plants.     

Tillage effects on microbial biomass and nutrient distribution in soils under rain-fed corn production in central-western Mexico

Quantifying how tillage systems affect soil microbial biomass and nutrient cycling by manipulating crop residue placement is important for understanding how production systems can be managed to sustain long-term soil productivity. Our objective was to characterize soil microbial biomass, potential N mineralization and nutrient distribution in soils (Vertisols, Andisols, and Alfisols) under rain-fed corn (Zea mays L.) production from four mid-term (6 years) tillage experiments located in central-western, Mexico. Treatments were three tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no tillage (NT). Soil was collected at four locations (Casas Blancas, Morelia, Apatzingán and Tepatitlán) before corn planting, at depths of 0–50, 50–100 and 100–150 mm. Conservation tillage treatments (MT and NT) significantly increased crop residue accumulation on the soil surface. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were highest in the surface layer of NT and decreased with depth. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, total N and extractable P of plowed soil were generally more evenly distributed throughout the 0–150 mm depth. Potential N mineralization was closely associated with organic C and microbial biomass. Higher levels of soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were directly related to surface accumulation of crop residues promoted by conservation tillage management. Quality and productivity of soils could be maintained or improved with the use of conservation tillage.     

Tillage,lime, and poultry litter effects on soil zinc,manganese, and copper

Abstract

Long‐term no‐tillage has profound effects on soil properties which can affect the availability of plant nutrient elements. The objectives were to study the effects of tillage and lime treatments on soil pH and extractable soil micronutrients where poultry litter was used as a nitrogen (N) source. Surface soil samples were taken in the spring and fall for two years from a long‐term tillage experiment that had been in place for nine years. There were two tillage treatments [conventional (CT) and no‐tillage (NT)] and six lime/ gypsum treatments (control, 8,960 kg gypsum ha^‐1 every fourth year, 4,480 kg lime ha^‐1 every fourth year, and three treatments of 8,960 kg lime ha^‐1 in a four‐year period divided by application times into 1, 2, and 4 treatments per year). Poultry litter was applied each year of the two‐year experiment at a rate of 8.96 Mg ha^‐1 on a dry weight basis. The crop was corn (Zea maize L.). Soil samples were analyzed for pH and Mehlich‐1 zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). Soil pH was higher for NT than CT and was higher in the spring than in the fall. Lime rates resulted in soil pH increases, but showed less difference for CT than NT. The three 8,960 kg ha^‐1 per four yr treatments caused an interaction in that for CT the pH increased more for 2,240 kg ha^‐1each year than for 8,960 kg ha^‐1 every fourth year and the opposite was true for NT. Extractable Zn, Mn, and Cu all responded to this interaction being lower for the higher pH plots. Extractable Zn was higher for NT possibly due to high Zn from the poultry litter and non‐incorporation for NT. Extractable Cu was lower for NT as expected from the soil pH, whereas extractable Mn was not affected by tillage. Extractable Zn and Cu both increased over time due to inputs from the poultry litter. Neither extractable Zn nor Mn responded to increasing lime rates, however Cu decreased with increasing lime rate. Extractable Cu was influenced mainly by soil pH differences due to tillage and lime. Extractable Zn was influenced much more by tillage and from inputs by the poultry litter and not as much by pH differences. Extractable Mn was the least responsive to tillage and lime treatments of the three micronutrients studied.     

Long-term tillage and crop rotation effects on microbial biomass and C and N mineralization in a Brazilian Oxisol

Crop rotation and tillage impact microbial C dynamics, which are important for sequestering C to offset global climate change and to promote sustainable crop production. Little information is available for these processes in tropical/subtropical agroecosystems, which cover vast areas of terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, a study of crop rotation in combination with no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems was conducted on an Oxisol (Typic Haplorthox) in an experiment established in 1976 at Londrina, Brazil. Soil samples were taken at 0–50, 50–100 and 100–200 mm depths in August 1997 and 1998 and evaluated for microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and mineralizable C and N. There were few differences due to crop rotation, however there were significant differences due to tillage. No tillage systems increased total C by 45%, microbial biomass by 83% and MBC:total C ratio by 23% at 0–50 mm depth over CT. C and N mineralization increased 74% with NT compared to CT systems for the 0–200 mm depth. Under NT, the metabolic quotient (CO₂ evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 32% averaged across soil depths, which suggests CT produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NT systems. These soil microbial properties were shown to be sensitive indicators of long-term tillage management under tropical conditions.     

Physical, chemical and microbiological properties of an Andisol as related to land use and tillage practice

The effects of land use and management practice on soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties may provide essential information for assessing sustainability and environmental impact. This study compared the effects of 41 years of no-tillage (NT) with continuous apple orchard, with those of conventional tillage (CT) with wheat–soybean rotation and another of puddling (PD) with continuous rice on the characteristics of a pumice Andisol in a temperate region of northern Japan. Higher values for bulk density, penetration resistance, pH, C/N ratio, exchangeable Na (X-Na), Fe, and Mn were observed for PD than NT and CT. On the other hand, organic matter, EC, N, exchangeable K (X-K), exchangeable Ca (X-Ca) and Cu were significantly higher for NT than CT and PD. Highest content of Zn was found in CT compared to other practices. The three-phase composition at pF 2.0 was significantly affected by land use and tillage practices. The solid phase and liquid phase were greater under PD than under NT and CT, while air phase was greater under CT than under NT and PD. Significantly higher values for saturated hydraulic conductivity was found in CT than NT and PD. Total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and PLFA for bacteria, aerobes and cyanobacteria were remarkably higher in NT than CT and PD, regardless of depth. On the other hand, PLFA for methane-oxidizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and mycorrhizae were significantly higher in CT than NT and PD. PLFA for fungi was significantly higher in surface (0–10 cm) soils than subsurface (10–20 cm) soils regardless of treatments. Highest bacterial and fungal diversity evaluated by DNA band number in DGGE analysis based on PCR amplification of 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA fragments, respectively, were observed in surface soil of PD. The result suggests a linkage between microbial community and tillage practices in temperate Andisol. This study also justifies the need of measuring soil characteristics based on soil microbial communities.     

Tillage,lime, and poultry litter effects on plant concentrations of zinc,manganese, and copper

Minimum tillage cropping systems and the use of animal manures on cropland are becoming more prevalent. An experiment was initiated to determine the effects of tillage and lime/gypsum variables on uptake of zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) by corn (Zea mays L.) and to show correlations between plant uptake of these metals and soil pH and Mehlich 1‐extractable soil metals where poultry litter was used as a nitrogen (N) source. Surface soil samples were taken in the spring and fall for two years from a long‐term tillage experiment that had been in place for nine years. There were two tillage treatments [conventional (CT) and no‐tillage (NT)] and six lime/gypsum treatments (control, 8,960 kg gypsum ha^‐1 every fourth year, 4,480 kg lime ha^‐1 every fourth year, and three treatments of 8,960 kg lime ha^‐1 in a four‐year period divided by application times into 1, 2, and 4 treatments). Poultry litter was applied each year of the two‐year experiment at a rate of 8.96 Mg ha^‐1 on a dry weight basis. Soil samples were analyzed for pH and Mehlich 1‐extractable Zn, Mn, and Cu, and plant tissue (small plant, ear leaf, stalk, and grain) was analyzed for Zn, Mn, and Cu concentrations. Lime treatments resulted in lower Zn in the small plant and ear leaf for CT, but not for NT. Plant Mn was decreased by lime and gypsum rates for small plant, ear leaf, stalk and grain for both years for CT and NT. Correlations for plant Zn versus soil pH were generally non‐significant, except for one year for ear leaf Zn (R=‐0.413**). Correlations for soil pH and plant tissue Cu were all nonsignificant. Correlations for plant Mn and soil pH were strong with R values over 0.80. Plant Mn response to treatments was found at a pH range of 4.2 to 5.8 for ear leaf and pH 5.2 to 6.2 for stalks. Plant Mn and Zn versus Mehlich 1‐extractable soil Mn and Zn, respectively, were negative. This response was possibly due to oxidation‐reduction and non‐incorporation of the lime for Mn and non‐incorporation of the lime for Zn. Also, the poultry litter was high in Zn (447 mg kg^‐1), which could have masked pH effects. It was concluded that soil sampling for plant micronutrients for NT, especially where a waste material high in micronutrients is applied, can give erratic and even erroneous results. However, lime and tillage treatments had a predictable effect on micronutrient uptake as related to soil pH.     

Soil organic carbon and fractions of a Rhodic Ferralsol under the influence of tillage and crop rotation systems in southern Brazil

Soil organic matter (SOM) and its different pools have key importance in optimizing crop production, minimizing negative environmental impacts, and thus improving soil quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil C and N contents in bulk soil and in different SOM pools (light and heavy fractions) of a clayey Rhodic Ferralsol after 13 years of different tillage and crop rotations in Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from no-tillage (no soil disturbance except for sowing; NT) and conventional tillage (disc plough followed by light disc harrowings; CT) applied to wheat/soybean (W/S) and wheat/soybean–vetch/maize (W/S–V/M) rotations. As reference, soil was sampled from a non-cultivated area adjacent to the field experiment. The greatest soil C and N contents were found in non-cultivated soils in the 0–5 cm depth (45 g C kg⁻¹ soil and 3.6 g N kg⁻¹ soil). Crop cultivation led to a decrease in SOM content which was higher for CT soils (approx. 60% decrease in C and N contents) than NT soils (approx. 43% decrease in C and N contents) at 0–5 cm. Tillage had the greatest impact on soil C and N storage. Soils under NT did not contain higher C and N storage than CT soils below 5 cm depth. Significantly, higher amounts of organic carbon of FLF in CT (0.5–0.7 g C kg⁻¹ soil) than in NT soils (0.2 g C kg⁻¹ soil) at 10–20 cm depth were also observed and the differences in C and N storage between CT and NT soils in the 0–30 cm layer were not significant. Silt and clay fractions contained the largest amount of organic carbon (60–95% of total organic carbon), and free light fraction was the most sensitive pool of organic carbon to detect changes in SOM due to soil tillage and crop rotations.     

Impact of tillage and crop rotation on light fraction and intra-aggregate soil organic matter in two Oxisols

It is well known that no-tillage (NT) practices can promote greater stocks of soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil surface layer compared to conventional tillage (CT) by enhancing the physical protection of aggregate-associated C in temperate soils. However, this link between tillage, aggregation and SOM is less well established for tropical soils, such as Oxisols. The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of SOM stabilization in Oxisols as affected by different crop rotations and tillage regimes at two sites in southern Brazil. Soils were sampled from two agricultural experiment sites (Passo Fundo and Londrina) in southern Brazil, with treatments comparing different crop rotations under NT and CT management, and a reference soil under native vegetation (NV). Free light fraction (LF) and intra-aggregate particulate organic matter (iPOM) were isolated from slaking-resistant aggregates. Of the total C associated with aggregates, 79–90% was found in the mineral fraction, but there were no differences between NT and CT. In contrast, tillage drastically decreased LF-C concentrations in the 0–5 cm depth layer at both sites. In the same depth layer of NT systems at Londrina, the concentrations of iPOM-C were greater when a legume cover crop was included in the rotation. At Londrina, the order of total iPOM-C levels was generally NV > NT > CT in the 0–5 cm depth interval, but the difference between NT and CT was much less than in Passo Fundo. At Passo Fundo, the greatest concentrations and differences in concentrations across tillage treatments were found in the fine (53–250 μm) iPOM fractions occluded within microaggregates. In conclusion, even though no aggregate hierarchy exists in these Oxisols, our results corroborate the concept of a stabilization of POM-C within microaggregates in no-tillage systems, especially when green manures are included in the rotation.     

Effect of tillage and crop rotations on pore size distribution and soil hydraulic conductivity in sandy clay loam soil of the Indian Himalayas

Tillage management can affect crop growth by altering the pore size distribution, pore geometry and hydraulic properties of soil. In the present communication, the effect of different tillage management viz., conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and zero-tillage (ZT) and different crop rotations viz. [(soybean–wheat (S–W), soybean–lentil (S–L) and soybean–pea (S–P)] on pore size distribution and soil hydraulic conductivities [saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity {k(h)}] of a sandy clay loam soil was studied after 4 years prior to the experiment. Soil cores were collected after 4 year of the experiment at an interval of 75 mm up to 300 mm soil depth for measuring soil bulk density, soil water retention constant (b), pore size distribution, K_sat and k(h). Nine pressure levels (from 2 to 1500 kPa) were used to calculate pore size distribution and k(h). It was observed that b values at all the studied soil depths were higher under ZT than those observed under CT irrespective of the crop rotations. The values of soil bulk density observed under ZT were higher in 0–75 mm soil depth in all the crop rotations. But, among the crop rotations, soils under S–P and S–L rotations showed relatively lower bulk density values than S–W rotation. Average values of the volume fraction of total porosity with pores <7.5 μm in diameter (effective pores for retaining plant available water) were 0.557, 0.636 and 0.628 m³ m⁻³ under CT, MT and ZT; and 0.592, 0.610 and 0.626 m³ m⁻³ under S–W, S–L and S–P, respectively. In contrast, the average values of the volume fraction of total porosity with pores >150 μm in diameter (pores draining freely with gravity) were 0.124, 0.096 and 0.095 m³ m⁻³ under CT, MT and ZT; and 0.110, 0.104 and 0.101 m³ m⁻³ under S–W, S–L and S–P, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity values in all the studied soil depths were significantly greater under ZT than those under CT (range from 300 to 344 mm day⁻¹). The observed k(h) values at 0–75 mm soil depth under ZT were significantly higher than those computed under CT at all the suction levels, except at −10, −100 and −400 kPa suction. Among the crop rotations, S–P rotation recorded significantly higher k(h) values than those under S–W and S–L rotations up to −40 kPa suction. The interaction effects of tillage and crop rotations affecting the k(h) values were found significant at all the soil water suctions. Both S–L and S–P rotations resulted in better soil water retention and transmission properties under ZT.     

Long-term impact of conservation tillage on stratification ratio of soil organic carbon and loss of total and active CaCO3

Under semi-arid conditions, the properties of many soils are influenced by the presence of organic matter and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). However, the influence of different tillage systems on the development of these properties has scarcely been studied under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions. We studied the effect of long-term conservation tillage (CT) and traditional tillage (TT) on the stratification ratio of soil organic carbon and on CaCO₃ content. The study was conducted in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) crop rotation established in 1991 under rainfed conditions in Southwestern Spain. As is traditional in this area, wheat was fertilised, but sunflower was not. Conservation tillage was characterised by reduced number of tillage operations and leaving crop residues on the soil surface, while TT was with mouldboard ploughing. Stratification ratio of soil organic C was calculated from C contents in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm soil layers divided by that in the 25–40 cm. Stratification ratio of soil organic C under the CT (>2) was significantly greater than under TT (<2); values >2 indicating better soil quality. Our results show a loss of CaCO₃ under both tillage systems. However, the loss of CaCO₃ was significantly higher under TT than under CT. Also, P and K accumulated in the soil surface and stratification ratio for both nutrients was greater in CT than in TT.     

Denitrification and nitrous oxide to nitrous oxide plus dinitrogen ratios in the soil profile under three tillage systems

There is a growing interest in the adoption of conservation tillage systems [no-till (NT) and reduced tillage (RT)] as alternatives to conventional tillage (CT) systems. A 2-year study was conducted to investigate possible environmental consequences of three tillage systems on a 2.4-ha field located at Macdonald Research Farm, McGill University, Montreal. The soil was a sandy loam (0.5 m depth) underlain by a clay layer. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of CT, RT, and NT with the presence or absence of crop residue. Soil NO₃^--N concentrations tended to be lower in RT than NT and CT tillage treatments. Denitrification and N₂O emissions were similar among tillage systems. Contrary to the popular assumption that denitrification is limited to the uppermost soil layer (0–0.15 m), large rates of N₂O production were measured in the subsurface (0.15–0.45 m) soil, suggesting that a significant portion of produced N₂O may be missed if only soil surface gas flux measurements are made. The N₂O mole fraction (N₂O:N₂O+N₂) was higher in the drier season of 1999 under CT than in 2000, with the ratio occasionally exceeding 1.0 in some soil layers. Dissolved organic C concentrations remained high in all soil depths sampled, but were not affected by tillage system.     

稻作区保护性耕作和小麦种植对土壤养分的影响

该文采用4个处理：常规犁耕-休闲(DTF)、常规犁耕-小麦(DTW)、保护耕作-休闲(CTF)和保护耕作-小麦(CTW)，分析了10年后稻作区保护性耕作和小麦种植对土壤养分的影响。结果表明：在CTW处理下，土壤全N分别较DTF、DTW和CTF处理高10.03%、26.81%和23.17%。土壤碱解N也呈现相同的趋势；土壤全P，CTW处理下较DTF、DTW和CTF处理分别高12.93%、15.86%和21.36%。在0～10 cm土深，CTW处理下土壤有效P分别是DTF和DTW处理下的4.5和2.1倍；土壤全K在4种处理中与全N和P有类似的趋势；与处理DTF相比，Ca₂-P、Ca₈-P、Al-P、Fe-P、O-P和Ca₁₀-P在CTW下的含量迅速增加；代换态、易还原结合态、碳酸盐结合态、有机质结合态和无定形态Fe、Mn和Cu在CTW处理下含量降低，而残渣态Fe、Mn和Cu则增加。代换态和易还原锰结合态Zn在CTW处理下的含量增加，而相应地，无定形态和有机质结合态Zn则显著降低。而且，在有效Fe、Cu和Mn降低的同时，有效的Zn增加；稻作区，保护性耕作和小麦种植不仅增加表土层土壤养分的含量，而且可通过影响P、Fe、Mn、Zn和Cu的形态，缓解Fe和Mn对作物的毒害。     

Long-term effects of tillage systems and rotations on soil structural stability and organic carbon stratification in semiarid central Spain

Under semiarid Mediterranean climatic conditions, soils typically have low organic matter content and weak structure resulting in low infiltration rates. Aggregate stability is a quality indicator directly related to soil organic matter, which can be redistributed within soil by tillage. Long-term effects (1983–1996) of tillage systems on water stability of pre-wetted and air dried aggregates, soil organic carbon (SOC) stratification and crop production were studied in a Vertic Luvisol with a loam texture. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and zero tillage (ZT) under winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.) rotation (W–V), and under continuous monoculture of winter wheat or winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (CM). Aggregate stability of soil at a depth of 0–5 cm was much greater when 1–2 mm aggregates were vacuum wetted prior to sieving (83%) than when slaked (6%). However, slaking resulted in tillage effects that were consistent with changes in SOC. Aggregate stability of slaked aggregates was greater under ZT than under CT or MT in both crop rotations (i.e., 11% vs. 3%, respectively).

SOC under ZT tended to accumulate in the surface soil layer (0–5 and 5–10 cm) at the expense of deeper ones. At depths of 10–20 and 20–30 cm no differences in SOC were encountered among tillage systems, but CT exhibited the highest concentration at 30–40 cm depth. Nevertheless, when comparisons were made on mass basis (Mg ha⁻¹), significant differences in stocked SOC were observed at depths of 0–10 and 0–20 cm, where ZT had the highest SOC content in both rotations. The stock of SOC to a depth of 40 cm, averaged across crop rotations, was greater under ZT (43 Mg ha⁻¹) than under CT (41 Mg ha⁻¹) and MT (40 Mg ha⁻¹) although these figures were not significantly different. Likewise, no significant differences were encountered in the stock of SOC to a depth of 40 cm among crop rotations (i.e., 42 Mg ha⁻¹ for W–V vs. 40 Mg ha⁻¹ for CM).

Crop production with wheat–vetch and continuous cereal showed no differences among tillage systems. Yields were strongly limited by the environmental conditions, particularly the amount of rainfall received in the crop growth season and its distribution. Similar yield and improved soil properties under ZT suggests that it is a more sustainable system for the semiarid Mediterranean region of Spain.     

Effects of tillage and nitrogen management on soil chemical and physical properties after 23 years of continuous sorghum

Long-term tillage and nitrogen (N) management practices can have a profound impact on soil properties and nutrient availability. A great deal of research evaluating tillage and N applications on soil chemical properties has been conducted with continuous corn (Zea Mays L.) throughout the Midwest, but not on continuous grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). The objective of this experiment was to examine the long-term effects of tillage and nitrogen applications on soil physical and chemical properties at different depths after 23 years of continuous sorghum under no-till (NT) and conventional till (CT) (fall chisel-field cultivation prior to planting) systems. Ammonium nitrate (AN), urea, and a slow release form of urea were surface broadcast at rates of 34, 67, and 135 kg N ha⁻¹. Soil samples were taken to a depth of 15 cm and separated into 2.5 cm increments. As a result of lime applied to the soil surface, soil pH in the NT and CT plots decreased with depth, ranging from 6.9 to 5.7 in the NT plots and from 6.5 to 5.9 in the CT plots. Bray-1 extractable P and NH₄OAc extractable K was 20 and 49 mg kg⁻¹ higher, respectively, in the surface 2.5 cm of NT compared to CT. Extractable Ca was not greatly influenced by tillage but extractable Mg was higher for CT compared to NT below 2.5 cm. Organic carbon (OC) under NT was significantly higher in the surface 7.5 cm of soil compared to CT. Averaged across N rates, NT had 2.7 Mg ha⁻¹ more C than CT in the surface 7.5 cm of soil. Bulk density (Δ_b) of the CT was lower at 1.07 g cm⁻³ while Δ_b of NT plots was 1.13 g cm⁻³. This study demonstrated the effect tillage has on the distribution and concentration of certain chemical soil properties.     

Soil micronutrient availability to crops as affected by long-term inorganic and organic fertilizer applications

Micronutrient status in soils and crops can be affected by different fertilization practices during a long-term field experiment. This paper investigated the effects of different fertilization treatments on total and DTPA-extractable micronutrients in soils and micronutrients in crops after 16 year fertilization experiments in Fengqiu County, Henan Province, China. The treatments of the long-term experiment included combinations of various rates of N, P and K in addition to two rates of organic fertilizer (OF) treatments. Winter wheat and summer maize were planted annually. Soil macro- and micronutrients along with pH and organic matter (OM) were analyzed. Grains and above ground parts of both crops in the final year were harvested and analyzed for Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn. The results showed that soil Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations did not change among the different treatments to a significant level, except for a slight decrease of soil Zn in the CK (no fertilizer application) compared to the OF treatment. The DTPA-extractable soil Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations increased from 0.41 to 1.08 mg kg⁻¹, from 10.3 to 17.7 mg kg⁻¹, and from 9.7 to 11.8 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, with increasing soil OM content, thus showing the importance of soil OM in micronutrient availability for crops. The NPK treatment also had higher DTPA-extractable micronutrient concentrations in soil. Deficiency of N or P resulted in a low yield but high micronutrient concentrations in crops except Cu in maize stalks. Higher available soil P significantly decreased crop micronutrients, possibly because of their precipitation as metal phosphates. Maize stalks contained higher concentrations of micronutrients than those of wheat straw, whereas wheat grain had higher micronutrients than those of corn grain. The transfer coefficients (TCs) of micronutrients from straw to grain were significantly different between winter wheat (1.63–2.52 for Cu; 2.31–3.82 for Zn; no change for Fe; 0.55–0.84 for Mn) and summer maize (0.24–0.50 for Cu; 0.50–1.21 for Zn; 0.02–0.04 for Fe; 0.07–0.10 for Mn). In conclusion, application of organic matter significantly increased the DTPA-extractable concentrations of Zn, Fe and Mn compared to the CK, grain and vegetative tissue in the CK and NK had higher micronutrient concentrations than those in other treatments.     

Effect of tillage and residue management on hydrol-thermal regimen, nutrient uptake and yield of wheat in a river deposit

Field experiments were conducted on a river deposit during 1983–1984 and 1984–1985 in order to study the effect of different soil management practices, such as zero tillage with surface-applied crop residue mulch at a rate of 10 t ha⁻¹ (ZT+M), conventional tillage (CT), CT+ surface-applied crop residue mulch at a rate of 10 t ha⁻¹ (CT + M), CT+crop residue incorporation at a rate of 10 t ha⁻¹ (CT + SI), CT + farmyard manure incorporation at a rate of 10 t ha⁻¹ (CT + FYM), on soil hydro-thermal regime root growth, nutrient uptake and dry matter yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The soils of the site are classified as Entisol, Typic Psammaquent with pH 6.0, cation exchange capacity 10 c mol (p⁺) per kg in the surface (0–0.3 m) depth. In the CT + M and CT + FYM treatments, higher water retention was observed compared to CI. The minimum soil temperature was also raised by 3°C under CT + M to CT at 0.1-m depth. CT + M and CT + FYM had significantly higher root mass density compared with other treatments at all stages of crop growth. The nitrogen (N) uptake under these two treatments was also significantly higher compared to CT. Under CT+M, plants did not suffer from N stress compared to other treatments. Phosphorus (P) uptake (except at tillering) and potassium (K) uptake under CT+M and CT + FYM were significantly higher than for all the other treatments. Treatments ZT+M and CT+SI behave simply to CT in terms of hydro-thermal regime, root growth, nutrient uptake and dry matter yield. The grain yield under CT+M and CT+FYM during 1983–1984 and 1984–1985 was significantly higher than that under all the other treatments.