Pore characteristics and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam supplied for a century with either animal manure or mineral fertilizers

Abstract Application of organic residues to soil is generally assumed to improve soil tilth. Only few studies have reported the long‐term effects on the more subtle aspects of soil porosity, and no reports have considered the potential effects of organic amendments on the pore system in the subsoil. We sampled undisturbed soil cores (100 cm³ and 6280 cm³) using metal cylinders in differently fertilized plots in the long‐term field experiment at Askov Experimental Station, Denmark. We selected the 0–60 cm soil layer of plots dressed for a century with either mineral fertilizers (labelled NPK) or animal manure (labelled AM) and unfertilized plots (UNF) as a reference. Both fertilization treatments were studied at two levels of nutrient application: ‘normal’ (labelled ‘1’) and 1.5 times ‘normal’ (labelled ‘1½’). Water retention, air permeability and air diffusivity were measured on the small cores, and we used the large cores for measuring near‐saturated and saturated hydraulic conductivity. In the plough layer, the AM and NPK soils displayed identical pore volumes in size fractions that were larger as well as smaller than 30 μm, while the UNF soil had a significantly smaller volume of pores < 30 μm. No clear trends were found in treatment effects on pore organization as calculated from air diffusivity and air permeability measurements. No significant differences in hydraulic conductivity were found in the plough layer. For the subsoil below ploughing depth, significantly larger macropore volumes and near‐saturated hydraulic conductivities were found for soil of plots receiving the larger (‘1½’) amount of nutrients compared with the ‘normally’ dressed soil. This effect was independent of fertilization system (AM or NPK). We attribute the larger volume of macropores to the improved root growth conditions in the soil with the higher nutrient level. We conclude that addition of animal manure at rates realistic in agriculture has only a modest effect on soil pore characteristics of the plough layer soil compared with the use of mineral fertilizers. For the subsoil below ploughing depth, a high level of nutrient application may increase soil macroporosity and near‐saturated hydraulic conductivity, but the origin of nutrients is of no significance.     

低场核磁探测水稻田改蔬菜地土壤水分的相态变化

为了解水稻土转变为设施蔬菜地后土壤水分的相态变化,该研究在田间土壤调查的基础上,结合低场核磁测氢技术,评价了田间状态的水稻土和不同转化年限设施蔬菜地土壤水分的相态分布情况。结果表明:随着转化时间的延长,耕层土壤大孔隙吸持的自由水比重下降,土壤小孔隙吸持的束缚水比重上升,犁底层土壤水分的相态分布却无明显变化,土壤水分吸持性能在转化时间序列上呈现下降的趋势,但长期施用有机肥可以优化耕层质量,提升土壤大孔隙吸持自由水的能力,改善土壤水分供释性能;水稻土转化为设施蔬菜地土壤2 a后,出现新犁底层,使得原有的耕层土壤变薄,土壤水分吸持性能下降。核磁共振作为一种新的技术手段,可以实现实时、快速、准确地检测土壤水分的相态变化,可为设施农业的可持续管理提供新的技术支持。     

Conservation Agriculture Had a Poor Impact on the Soil Porosity of Veneto Low‐lying Plain Silty Soils after a 5‐year Transition Period

Conservation agriculture practices have been proposed as a set of techniques for improving soil structure properties and related ecosystem services. This study compared conservation agriculture (CA) practices (no‐tillage, cover crop and residue retention) and conventional intensive tillage system in order to evaluate their effects on total porosity, pore size distribution, pore architecture and morphology. The experiment was set up in 2010 on four farms of the low‐lying Veneto Region plain characterized by silty soils. Almost hundred soil samples were collected in 2015 at four depths down to 50‐cm layer and investigated for porosity from micrometre (0·0074 μm) to macrometre (2·5 mm) by coupling mercury intrusion porosimetry and X‐ray computed microtomography (μCT). Indices of soil morphology and architecture were derived by analysing 3D images and mercury intrusion porosimetry pore size curves. Results suggested that silty soils of Veneto plain are microstructured because much (82%) of the porosity ranged between 0·0074 and 30 μm. CA practices positively influenced the ultramicroporosity class (0·1–5 μm) (1·86E‐01 vs 1·67E‐01 μm³ μm⁻³) that is strictly linked to soil organic carbon stabilization while no effects were observed in X‐ray μCT porosity domain (> 26 μm). Silty soils of Veneto plain showed a slow reaction to CA because of the poor aggregate stability and low soil organic carbon. However, the positive response of the ultramicropore fraction indicates that a virtuous cycle was initiated between soil organic carbon and porosity, hopefully leading to well‐developed macropore systems and, in turn, enhanced soil functions and ecosystem services. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Excessive application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers induces soil acidification and phosphorus enrichment during vegetable production in Yangtze River Delta,China

Intensive vegetable cultivation has developed very rapidly in China, and investigation of current soil nutrient problems in vegetable fields and their potential environmental risk is important for local soil nutrient management strategies. Three hundred and sixty‐six soil samples were collected from greenhouse vegetable fields, open vegetable fields and rice/wheat rotation fields in southern Jiangsu Province, the most intensive vegetable‐producing areas in Yangtze River Delta, China, for the analysis of their soil fertility status. Soil acidification and P enrichment were the main problems identified in this area of vegetable production, with about 20 and 17% of the open and greenhouse vegetable field soils, respectively, being extremely acid with soil pH values below 5.0. In contrast, no soils under rice/wheat rotation fields were as acidic. Percentages of sites with Olsen‐P concentrations < 90 mg/kg were 61, 85 and 0% for soils growing greenhouse vegetable, field vegetable and rice/wheat, respectively. The nitrogen (N) surplus for vegetable fields exceeded 170 kg/ha/crop, and the phosphorus (P) surplus exceeded 40 kg/ha/crop. Thus, current vegetable production leads to potential environmental risks of N and P pollution of nearby aquatic bodies. Insufficient supplementation with potassium fertilizers was found in some vegetable fields. Several ameliorative measures are proposed.     

Influence of basin‐based conservation agriculture on selected soil quality parameters under smallholder farming in Zimbabwe

The research was carried out to determine the effect of basin‐based conservation agriculture (CA) on selected soil quality parameters. Paired plots (0.01 ha) of CA and conventional tillage based on the animal‐drawn mouldboard plough (CONV) were established between 2004 and 2007 on farm fields on soils with either low (12–18% – sandy loams and sandy clay loams) or high clay levels (>18–46% – sandy clays and clays) as part of an ongoing project promoting CA in six districts in the smallholder farming areas of Zimbabwe. We hypothesized that CA would improve soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, aggregate stability, soil moisture retention and infiltration rate. Soil samples for SOC and aggregate stability were taken from 0 to 15 cm depth and for bulk density and soil moisture retention from 0 to 5, 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 cm depths in 2011 from maize plots. Larger SOC contents, SOC stocks and improved aggregate stability, decreased bulk density, increased pore volume and moisture retention were observed in CA treatments. Results were consistent with the hypothesis, and we conclude that CA improves soil quality under smallholder farming. Benefits were, however, greater in high clay soils, which is relevant to the targeting of practices on smallholder farming areas of sub‐Saharan Africa.     

华北地区有机种植和常规种植模式下土壤重金属含量及污染评价

为探讨有机种植与常规种植两种不同种植方式对土壤重金属含量和污染特性的影响,本文在华北5个地区选取典型的有机蔬菜和有机小麦种植基地及附近相似条件的常规种植地块,比较了土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd、As共6种重金属含量的差异,并采用不同评价方法对不同种植方式下土壤中重金属的污染程度进行了评价。结果表明:与常规种植相比,有机种植减轻了土壤酸化和盐渍化,提高了土壤有机质含量和阳离子交换量,在一定程度上有利于降低土壤中重金属的生物有效性。与土壤背景值相比,所有调查地区的土壤重金属均有不同程度的增加和积累。与常规种植相比,有机种植模式能有效降低土壤中Cd、Cr含量,有机小麦种植地块因长期施用大量有机肥导致土壤中Cu、Zn、As大量富集;而常规温室菜田同时施用大量的有机肥、化肥及农药,土壤中Cu、Zn、As富集的风险比有机种植模式高;露天蔬菜有机种植地块土壤中Cu、Zn、As含量与常规地块差异不明显。综合污染指数评价结果显示,调查地区土壤均属于轻污染程度,主要贡献因子为Cd、Cu、Zn,有机种植降低了土壤中重金属的综合污染水平;地累积指数法评价结果表明,调查地区处于无污染到中等污染水平,最明显的污染元素是Cd,有机种植降低了土壤中重金属污染的程度和风险;潜在生态危害指数评价结果表明,所调查地块存在轻微潜在生态风险,其中产生较大生态危害的是Cd,表现出轻微生态危害程度。本研究表明,有机种植减轻了土壤中重金属综合污染水平和污染风险,并减轻了土壤重金属的潜在生态危害。     

菜地旱地交错分布区土壤有机碳和有效态微量元素的空间变异性—以山东寿光古城镇为例

基于GIS和地统计学方法,以山东寿光古城镇为例,分析了两种利用方式下（大棚蔬菜和小麦玉米轮作）表层（020 cm）土壤有机碳的空间变异特征及其影响因素,并分析了土壤有机碳含量与有效态微量元素含量之间的相关性。结果表明,研究区内大棚菜地有机碳平均含量高于小麦玉米轮作农田,两者变异程度均为中等,受施肥、温度、灌溉、翻耕等人为因素的影响显著。菜地耕层土壤有机碳的变程（749 m）小于农田（1460 m）,说明菜地有机碳空间变异程度高,这与菜地中施肥管理措施变异度更大有关。轮作区土壤有机碳空间分布模拟结果表明,研究区中部土壤有机碳含量较高,中东部和西部较低。大棚菜地土壤有机碳空间模拟结果表明,土壤有机碳较高值分布于研究区的东北、西北和东南区域,较低值分布在中西部北边位置。小麦玉米轮作农田中有机碳存储量与有效Fe、Cu、B含量呈极显著正相关,与有效Mn呈极显著负相关;菜地土壤有机碳与微量元素有效态之间的相关性不明显。     

不同栽培模式对中小型土壤动物多样性的影响

土壤动物是土壤中重要的生物群落,在分解凋落物、土壤有机质以及维护生态系统平衡等方面中扮演重要角色。为了研究不同栽培模式下中小型土壤动物多样性特征,探究有利于中小型土壤动物的种植方式,本文研究了有机与常规栽培、大棚与露天、茄果与叶菜等不同栽培模式对中小型土壤动物种群数量、组成和多样性等特征的影响。结果表明：1）利用Tullgren法在18个样地共获得中小型土壤动物3 869只,隶属于2门14目30科（亚目）。辐螨亚目、甲螨亚目以及等节跳科构成了研究区土壤动物的主要部分。2）露天条件下,有机栽培使5~10 cm和10~15 cm土层中小型土壤动物数量显著高于常规栽培;但大棚条件下,有机栽培使0~5 cm和5~10 cm土层中小型土壤动物数量显著低于常规栽培。3）有机栽培下,大棚内0~5 cm和10~15 cm土层中小型土壤动物数量显著低于露天,且棚内10~15 cm层中小型土壤动物丰富度显著高于常规栽培;而常规栽培下,大棚内5~10 cm土层中小型土壤动物数量著高于露天。无论有机和常规栽培,棚内0~5 cm层中小型土壤动物Shannon-Weiner多样性高于露天。4）有机栽培使叶菜作物10~15 cm土层中小型土壤动物数量显著低于常规栽培,且0~5 cm土层中小型土壤动物均匀度指数显著高于常规栽培;常规栽培使叶菜作物0~5 cm和5~10 cm土层中小型土壤动物数量显著高于茄果作物。因此,在设施条件下采用有机栽培和管理,且利用作物轮作可能更有利于土壤动物群落数量和多样性的增加。     

亚热带红壤区不同土地利用方式下的土壤剖面水流特征

以江西省鹰潭市的典型旱地、稻田和林地为研究对象,采用野外亮蓝染色示踪试验结合室内图像处理的方法,量化了各样地土壤剖面染色特征参数,明确了水流类型的剖面分布规律,并揭示了土壤理化性质对水流特征的影响机制。结果表明:染色面积比(SAR)随着土层深度的增加急剧降低,0—60 cm土层的平均SAR表现为稻田(28.16%)高于旱地(21.95%)和林地(18.64%),SAR差异主要体现在5—25 cm土层;染色路径数(SPN)随着土层深度的增加先增加后减小,整个剖面的平均SPN为稻田最多(20条),旱地其次(12条),林地最少(9条)。各样地0—20 cm土层染色路径宽度(SPW)均以1—10 cm为主,水流类型从上至下依次为均质流、非均质指流和高相互作用大孔隙流;对于20 cm以下土层,旱地和稻田的SPW以1 cm为主,水流类型分别以低相互作用大孔隙流和混合作用大孔隙流为主,林地以1—10 cm的SPW为主,主要水流类型为高相互作用大孔隙流。有机质含量、根系密度和土壤机械组成等性质影响了土壤的孔隙特征,进而影响了土壤的饱和导水率和水流特征。为提高红壤区的水分利用效率、减少水土流失,可以通过破除旱地犁底层、减少稻田干湿交替下的裂隙发育,以及增加林地植被多样性等多种方式实现。     

Intensive organic vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated management

Intensive vegetable production in greenhouses has rapidly expanded in China since the 1990s and increased to 1.3 million ha of farmland by 2016, which is the highest in the world. We conducted an 11‐year greenhouse vegetable production experiment from 2002 to 2013 to observe soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics under three management systems, i.e., conventional (CON), integrated (ING), and intensive organic (ORG) farming. Soil samples (0–20 and 20–40 cm depth) were collected in 2002 and 2013 and separated into four particle‐size fractions, i.e., coarse sand (> 250 µm), fine sand (250–53 µm), silt (53–2 µm), and clay (< 2 µm). The SOC contents and δ¹³C values of the whole soil and the four particle‐size fractions were analyzed. After 11 years of vegetable farming, ORG and ING significantly increased SOC stocks (0–20 cm) by 4008 ± 36.6 and 2880 ± 365 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, respectively, 8.1‐ and 5.8‐times that of CON (494 ± 42.6 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). The SOC stock increase in ORG at 20–40 cm depth was 245 ± 66.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, significantly higher than in ING (66 ± 13.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1) and CON (109 ± 44.8 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). Analyses of ¹³C revealed a significant increase in newly produced SOC in both soil layers in ORG. However, the carbon conversion efficiency (CE: increased organic carbon in soil divided by organic carbon input) was lower in ORG (14.4%–21.7%) than in ING (18.2%–27.4%). Among the four particle‐sizes in the 0–20 cm layer, the silt fraction exhibited the largest proportion of increase in SOC content (57.8% and 55.4% of the SOC increase in ORG and ING, respectively). A similar trend was detected in the 20–40 cm soil layer. Over all, intensive organic (ORG) vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated (ING) management.     

Fate of N and C from labelled plant material: Recovery in perennial ryegrass–clover mixtures and in pore water of the sward

The belowground C and N dynamics leading to organic and inorganic N leaching from perennial ryegrass–clover mixtures are not well understood. Based on the hypothesis that four different plant materials would degrade differently, a 16 months field experiment was conducted to determine (i) the source strength of labelled plant residues in dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and dissolved organic N (DON) in pore water from the plough layer, and (ii) the plant uptake of organically bound N. Litterbags containing ¹⁴C- and ¹⁵N-labelled ryegrass or clover roots or leaves were inserted into the sward of a ryegrass–clover mixture in early spring. The fate of the released ¹⁴C and ¹⁵N was monitored in harvested biomass, roots, soil, and pore water percolating from the plough layer. No evidence of plant uptake of dual-labelled organic compounds from the dual-labelled residues could be observed. N in pore water from the plough layer during autumn and winter had a constant content of dissolved organic N (DON) and an increasing content of dissolved inorganic N (DIN). A positive correlation between aboveground clover biomass harvested in the growth season and total-N in pore water indicated that decaying roots from the living clover could be a major source of the 10 kg N ha⁻¹ being lost with pore water during autumn and winter. The presence of ¹⁵N in pore water shifted from the DON fraction in autumn to the DIN fraction in late winter, with strong indications that ¹⁵N originated from the living ryegrass. However, ¹⁵N in pore water originating from plant residues only constituted 1.5% of the total dissolved N from the plough layer.     

免耕对稻油轮作系统土壤结构的影响

为探明免耕对稻油轮作系统土壤结构的影响,基于湖南省洞庭湖区4a的耕作试验(2016—2019),采用X射线CT扫描技术和常规土壤物理分析方法,研究了旋耕和免耕对水稻土0～25 cm土层土壤结构的影响。与旋耕相比,免耕处理对0～5 cm土层的土壤容重和土壤有机碳无显著影响,但免耕处理显著提高了0～10 cm土层>2 mm团聚体的含量和团聚体稳定性。不同耕作方式改变了土壤大孔隙度和孔隙大小分布,与旋耕处理相比,免耕处理增加了0～5和5～10 cm土层各个孔径范围内(>25μm)的大孔隙度,其中0～5 cm土层300～500μm孔径的大孔隙显著增加了70.5%,5～10 cm土层25～300和300～500μm孔径的大孔隙分别增加了82.8%和167.2%(P<0.05)。研究表明,稻油轮作系统免耕有利于提高表层土壤团聚体稳定性和大孔隙度,改善水稻土结构状况。     

Soil pore volume and the abundance of soil mites in two contrasting habitats

Microarthropods are mainly found in the organic layer of soils but show high spatial variability in abundance that remains poorly understood. A factor that could be influencing the abundance of microarthropods is the soil pore volume. Consequently, we tested the hypothesis that mite abundance is related to soil pore volume in two contrasting habitats. Heather moorland and birch woodland, with contrasting humus forms, showed high within-habitat variation in soil pore volume and mite abundance. The abundance of oribatid mites in both habitats and the abundance of mesostigmatid mites in heather moorland were strongly and positively related to the volume of pores in the range 60–300 μm. This supports the hypothesis that mite abundance is influenced by soil pore volume and we stress that soil structure should be considered as an explanatory variable when studying microarthropod communities.     

Relation between soil P test values and mobilization of dissolved and particulate P from the plough layer of typical Danish soils from a long‐term field experiment with applied P fertilizers

Accumulation of phosphorus (P) in agricultural topsoils can contribute to leaching of P which may cause eutrophication of surface waters. An understanding of P mobilization processes in the plough layer is needed to improve agricultural management strategies. We compare leaching of total dissolved and particulate P through the plough layer of a typical Danish sandy loam soil subjected to three different P fertilizer regimes in a long‐term field experiment established in 1975. The leaching experiment used intact soil columns (20 cm diameter, 20 cm high) during unsaturated conditions. The three soils had small to moderate labile P contents, expressed by water‐extractable P (3.6–10.7 mg/kg), Olsen P (11–28 mg/kg) and degree of P saturation (DPS) (25–34%). Mobilization of total dissolved P (TDP) increased significantly (P < 0.05) from the intact soil columns with increasing labile P, whereas the increase in particulate P (PP) with increasing labile P content was modest and statistically insignificant. We found concentrations up to 1.5 mg TP/L for the plough layer of this typical Danish sandy loam soil. This highlights that even a moderate labile P content can be a potential source of TDP from the plough layer, and that a lower concentration margin of optimum agronomic P levels should be considered.     

Chemical properties,microbial biomass,and activity differ between soils of organic and conventional horticultural systems under greenhouse and open field management: a case study

Purpose  

Increasing soil organic matter content is important in improving soil fertility; however, conventional farming practices generally lead to a reduction in such organic material. A comparative study of organic and conventional arable farming systems was conducted in Shanghai, China, to determine the influence of management practices on soil chemistry, microbial activity, and biomass. Soils used in greenhouses and open field cultivation were obtained from plots subjected to organic farming methods for 3 years or from conventionally farmed fields in the same area.     

Excessive Nitrogen Inputs in Intensive Greenhouse Cultivation May Influence Soil Microbial Biomass and Community Composition

Intensive greenhouse vegetable‐production systems commonly utilize excessive fertilizer inputs that are inconsistent with sustainable production and may affect soil quality. Soil samples were collected from 15 commercial greenhouses used for tomato production and from neighboring fields used for wheat cropping to determine the effects of intensive vegetable cultivation on soil microbial biomass and community structure. Soil total nitrogen (N) and organic‐matter contents were greater in the intensive greenhouse tomato soils than the open‐field wheat soils. Soil microbial carbon (C) contents were greater in the greenhouse soils, and soil microbial biomass N showed a similar trend but with high variation. The two cropping systems were not significantly different. Soil microbial biomass C was significantly correlated with both soil total N and soil organic matter, but the relationships among soil microbial biomass N, soil total N, and organic‐matter content were not significant. The Biolog substrate utilization potential of the soil microbial communities showed that greenhouse soils were significantly higher (by 14%) than wheat soils. Principal component (PC) analysis of soil microbial communities showed that the wheat sites were significantly correlated with PC1, whereas the greenhouse soils were variable. The results indicate that changes in soil microbiological properties may be useful indicators for the evaluation of soil degradation in intensive agricultural systems.     

北碚区菜地表层土壤镉的环境地球化学基线与污染程度研究

通过野外采样、室内测试及数理统计,对北碚区菜地表层土壤镉的基线值、污染程度进行研究。结果表明:(1)研究区菜地表层土壤镉含量平均值为0.212mg/kg,标准差为0.060mg/kg,变异系数为28.3%,处于低度变异;基线值为0.144mg/kg。(2)对研究区菜地表层土壤镉含量进行污染程度分析发现,以国家土壤环境质量一级标准(自然背景)为标准,研究区56.9%的菜地表层土壤样品镉含量受到污染;若以无公害、绿色蔬菜产地土壤环境质量要求为标准,其研究区菜地表层土壤在镉含量水平上基本满足无公害、绿色蔬菜的生产,但存在局部地区的点源污染。(3)对研究区菜地表层土壤镉含量与理化性质数据进行相关分析发现,有机质含量与镉含量呈极显著相关性。     

太湖地区大棚菜地土壤养分与地下水水质调查

为了解和评价太湖地区大棚菜地土壤肥力及其周边地下水硝酸盐和氨氮含量状况,以直湖港小流域为研究区域,采集大棚和露天菜地土样192和54个,浅层地下水样26和10个,分析土壤速效养分、全氮和有机质含量,土壤pH和EC值,地下水硝酸盐和氨氮含量。结果表明,直湖港小流域大棚菜地耕层土壤速效氮含量为279 mg/kg,是露天菜地的2.6倍。大棚菜地耕层土壤速效磷、钾含量分别为188 mg/kg和203 mg/kg,与露天菜地无显著差异。大棚菜地耕层土壤速效氮磷钾含量均高于全国第二次土壤普查分级的最高标准,且氮磷钾养分表聚严重。耕层土壤有机质含量偏低为13/kg;大棚菜地耕层土壤pH值为5.6呈弱酸性,37%的该区大棚菜地种植面积土壤pH值低于作物生理障碍的临界值,该区16.4%的大棚蔬菜种植面积土壤EC值超过作物生育障碍临界值。参照我国生活饮用水卫生标准评价,结果表明,直湖港小流域大棚菜地周边浅层地下水硝酸盐超标率为35%,氨氮超标率为8%。     

Effect of tillage intensity on weed infestation in organic farming

Conservation tillage is not yet widely accepted by organic farmers because inversion tillage is considered to be necessary for weed control. Three long-term experiments were established with combinations of reduced and conventional plough tillage and stubble tillage to determine weed infestation levels in organic farming, i.e. herbicide application being excluded. Experiment 1 (with very low stocking density of perennial weeds) showed that in presence of primary tillage by mouldboard ploughing the number of annual weeds was nearly unaffected by the mode of stubble tillage. In experiment 2, however, with Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) being artificially established, thistle density was significantly affected by stubble tillage and by a perennial grass–clover forage crop. Experiment 3 combined two levels of stubble tillage (skimmer plough, no stubble tillage = control) with four implements of primary tillage in the order of decreasing operation depth (deep mouldboard plough, double-layer plough, shallow mouldboard plough or chisel plough). Primary tillage by chisel plough resulted in significantly highest annual weed density compared to all other treatments. The natural C. arvense infestation in experiment 3 showed highest shoot density in the “skimmer plough/chisel plough” treatment compared to the lowest infestation in the “skimmer plough/double-layer plough” treatment. The poor capacity of the chisel plough for weed control was also reflected by the soil seed bank (5500 m⁻² C. arvense seeds for chisel plough, <300 seeds for all other primary tillage). A reduced operation depth of the mouldboard plough (“shallow mouldboard plough”) seemed to have an insufficient effect in controlling C. arvense infestation as well. Stubble tillage by the skimmer plough in addition to nearly any primary tillage operation largely reduced both annual weeds and thistle shoots. Most effective in controlling C. arvense was also a biennial grass–clover mixture as part of the crop rotation.Double-layer ploughing is a compromise between soil inversion and soil loosening/cutting and can be regarded as a step towards conservation tillage. In terms of controlling annual weeds and C. arvense, the double-layer plough was not inferior to a deep mouldboard plough and seems to be suitable for weed control in organic farming. Tilling the stubble shallowly after harvest can support weed control in organic farming remarkably, particularly in reducing C. arvense. If no noxious, perennial weeds occur and primary tillage is done by soil inversion, an omission of stubble tillage can be taken into consideration.