Soil Quality Indicators as Affected by Shallow Tillage in a Vineyard Grown in a Semiarid Mediterranean Environment

Within the Mediterranean basin, soil tillage enhances the mineralisation of soil organic matter. We assessed the short‐term impact of shallow tillage [field cultivator (FC), rotary tiller (RT) and spading machine (SM)] on some soil quality indicators [bulk density, water‐stable aggregates, total and labile organic C pools (microbial biomass and extractable organic C), soil respiration and related eco‐physiological indexes] in a Sicilian vineyard. Also no tillage was included. We hypothesized that (i) RT and FC worsened soil quality indicators more than SM, and (ii) within the same tillage system, labile C pools, soil respiration and eco‐physiological indexes will respond more efficiently than chemical and physical soil properties since the tillage starts. The experiment started at March 2009, and each tillage type was applied three times per year (March or April, May and June), with soil tilled up to 15‐cm depth. Soil was sampled (0–15 and 15–30‐cm depth) in March 2009, April 2010, May 2012 and June 2014. SM was very effective in preserving soil organic matter pool and in improving any monitored soil quality indicator, similarly to no tillage. By contrast, RT was the most deleterious machine as it worsened most investigated indicators. Such deleterious effects were due to drastic disruption of soil aggregates and consequent exposition of protected soil organic matter to further microbial mineralization. Labile organic C pools and microbial quotients were the most responsive soil parameters for assessing the impact of shallow tillage on soil quality, even in the short term (<5 years). Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of autumn tillage and residue management on soil respiration in a long‐term field experiment in Sweden

Several previous field studies in temperate regions have shown decreased soil respiration after conventional tillage compared with reduced or no‐tillage treatments. Whether this decrease is due to differences in plant residue distribution or changes in soil structure following tillage remains an open question. This study investigated (1) the effects of residue management and incorporation depth on soil respiration and (2) biological activity in different post‐tillage aggregates representing the actual size and distribution of aggregates observed in the tilled layer. The study was conducted within a long‐term tillage experiment on a clay soil (Eutric Cambisol) in Uppsala, Sweden. After 38 y, four replicate plots in two long‐term treatments (moldboard plowing (MP) and shallow tillage (ST)) were split into three subplots. These were then used for a short‐term trial in which crop residues were either removed, left on the surface or incorporated to about 6 cm depth (ST) or at 20 cm depth (MP). Soil respiration, soil temperature, and water content were monitored during a 10‐d period after tillage treatment. Respiration from aggregates of different sizes produced by ST and MP was also measured at constant water potential and temperature in the laboratory. The results showed that MP decreased short‐term soil respiration compared with ST or no tillage. Small aggregates (< 16 mm) were biologically most active, irrespective of tillage method, but due to their low proportion of total soil mass they contributed < 1.5% to total respiration from the tilled layer. Differences in respiration between tillage treatments were found to be attributable to indirect effects on soil moisture and temperature profiles and the depth distribution of crop residues, rather than to physical disturbance of the soil.     

紫色土坡地土壤性质对耕作侵蚀的影响

[目的]揭示土壤性质对耕作侵蚀土壤的敏感性,为紫色土区域采取适宜的耕作措施提供依据。[方法]利用磁性示踪技术定量旋耕机上下耕作和等高耕作的土壤耕作位移和土壤位移量,选取土壤容重、土壤含水量、土壤有机质、土壤全氮、土壤有效磷、土壤抗剪强度和土壤紧实度等土壤理化性质和力学性质指标,研究土壤性质对旋耕机上下耕作和等高耕作的耕作侵蚀的影响特征。[结果]旋耕机上下耕作和等高耕作的土壤净位移和净位移量不仅受坡度影响,也受土壤性质的影响。土壤力学性质和土壤物理性质对旋耕机耕作侵蚀有显著影响,对于上下耕作的土壤抗剪强度、土壤紧实度和土壤容重与土壤净位移量呈显著正相关。对于等高耕作措施的土壤抗剪强度、土壤紧实度、土壤容重和土壤含水量与土壤净位移量呈显著正相关,其他指标关系不显著。[结论]土壤抗剪强度、土壤紧实度和土壤容重可以作为评价耕作侵蚀的土壤可蚀性指标。     

免耕对不同麦玉轮作农田土壤碳组分及理化性质的影响

为探讨耕作及轮作方式对农田土壤理化性质和碳组分的影响,设置免耕、传统耕作2种耕作方式,以及小麦-玉米轮作、小麦/玉米间作、小麦-冬油菜-玉米轮作3种种植模式,共形成6个处理,研究结果表明:与传统耕作相比,免耕增加了0~5 cm、5~20 cm土层全氮、全磷、速效磷和含水量,而降低了的土壤pH和土壤容重。免耕小麦/玉米间作(NT.W1/NT.WM.1)处理的土壤容重、含水量、全氮、全磷含量高于NT.WRM3和NT.WM5处理,在不同土层间,土壤全氮、全磷和速效磷含量随着土层深度的增加而降低。土壤碳组分含量总体表现为免耕处理高于传统耕作处理,免耕处理0~5 cm土层土壤有机碳、颗粒有机碳、可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳含量较相应传统耕作分别增加了1.31%~36.57%、2.07%~35.22%、2.38%~4.78%、2.08%~11.68%,在5~20 cm土层,免耕处理土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量高于传统耕作。在不同免耕处理下,土壤有机碳,颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳含量在0~5 cm、5~20 cm土层总体表现为NT.WM5高于其他免耕处理,相关性分析表明,有机碳、微生物量碳和速效磷呈极显著正相关,容重和有机碳呈极显著负相关。综上所述,免耕小麦/玉米间作利于改善土壤理化性质,小麦-玉米轮作有利于提高土壤有机碳,颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳含量。     

鄂南红壤穿透阻力的时空变化研究

为进一步揭示红壤地区季节性干旱的致灾机制,以夏玉米为供试作物,研究鄂南地区季节性干旱过程中,4种耕作措施(深耕、常规耕作、免耕、压实)下,红壤穿透阻力的时空变化特征及其对季节性干旱的响应特点。结果表明:在轻度到中度干旱期间,除深耕外,其余3个耕作措施的耕层红壤穿透阻力均超过了作物根系适宜的最大阻力(2.0 MPa)。红壤穿透阻力在0~40 cm土层呈单峰形分布,且不同耕作措施的峰值大小及峰值位置均存在差异;同时,随土壤含水量的增加,阻力值减小,且峰值位置在土层剖面亦随之发生不同程度的下移。红壤穿透阻力对季节性干旱有较好的响应关系,与耕层土壤含水量的相关系数达–0.839(P0.01),呈极显著非线性负相关关系,以二项式拟合结果最优。该响应关系存在临界反应,当季节性干旱达到一定程度时,土壤含水量较小范围内的变化都将引起红壤穿透阻力的剧烈变化。因此,在红壤地区研究季节性干旱时不可忽视土壤穿透阻力的存在,必须考虑因土壤含水量降低而导致的高土壤阻力对作物的影响。     

深翻－旋耕轮耕与有机肥配施对黑土农田土壤物理性质的影响

针对东北松嫩平原中南部黑土区玉米带农田长期旋耕导致耕层变浅、容重增大等问题,开展深翻-旋耕轮耕模式改善土壤物理性质的研究。试验设置连年旋耕配施化肥（RT）、连年旋耕配施化肥与有机肥（RM）、深翻－旋耕轮耕配施化肥（DT）和深翻－旋耕轮耕配施化肥与有机肥（DM）4个处理,分析0 ~ 45 cm土壤含水量、容重、紧实度、团聚体的变化及10 cm、20 cm、30 cm各深度处土壤温度变化情况。结果表明,与RT处理相比,DT处理能够显著提高玉米苗期和拔节期20 cm、30 cm深度土壤温度,增加玉米各生育时期15 ~ 45 cm土层土壤含水量,并且显著降低土壤容重和紧实度,提高了30 ~ 45 cm土层 > 0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的比例;同时DM处理能够增加苗期、收获期各土层含水量,且对0 ~ 45 cm土壤容重均有显著降低作用;而RM处理仅使0 ~ 15 cm土层容重有降低,但并不显著,且对深层土壤容重无明显影响。相关分析表明,在0 ~ 15 cm土层中,土壤含水量、紧实度、容重与温度呈负相关关系（P < 0.05）;在0 ~ 45 cm土层中,土壤容重与土壤紧实度呈极显著正相关关系（P < 0.05）。DM的耕作模式能降低土壤容重和紧实度,有效提高土壤温度、土壤含水量以及 > 0.25 mm 水稳性团聚体的比例,能够较好的改善土壤耕层物理性质。     

Soil Physical Quality of Citrus Orchards Under Tillage, Herbicide, and Organic Managements

Soil capacity to support life and to produce economic goods and services is strongly linked to the maintenance of good soil physical quality (SPQ). In this study, the SPQ of citrus orchards was assessed under three different soil managements, namely no-tillage using herbicides, tillage under chemical farming, and no-tillage under organic farming. Commonly used indicators, such as soil bulk density, organic carbon content, and structural stability index, were considered in conjunction with capacitive indicators estimated by the Beerkan estimation of soil transfer parameter (BEST) method. The measurements taken at the L'Alcoleja Experimental Station in Spain yielded optimal values for soil bulk density and organic carbon content in 100% and 70% of cases for organic farming. The values of structural stability index indicated that the soil was stable in 90% of cases. Differences between the soil management practices were particularly clear in terms of plant-available water capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Under organic farming, the soil had the greatest ability to store and provide water to plant roots, and to quickly drain excess water and facilitate root proliferation. Management practices adopted under organic farming (such as vegetation cover between the trees, chipping after pruning, and spreading the chips on the soil surface) improved the SPQ. Conversely, the conventional management strategies unequivocally led to soil degradation owing to the loss of organic matter, soil compaction, and reduced structural stability. The results in this study show that organic farming has a clear positive impact on the SPQ, suggesting that tillage and herbicide treatments should be avoided.     

Predicting soil workability and fragmentation in tillage: a review

Soil workability and friability are required parameters to consider when creating suitable seedbeds for crop establishment and growth. Knowledge of soil workability is important for scheduling tillage operations and for reducing the risk of tillage‐induced structural degradation of soils. A reliable evaluation of soil workability implies a distinctive definition of the critical water content (wet and dry limits) for tillage. In this review, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the methods for determining soil workability, and the effects of soil properties and tillage systems on soil workability and fragmentation. The strengths and limitations of the different methods for evaluating the water content for soil workability, such as the plastic limit, soil water retention curve (SWRC), standard Proctor compaction test, field assessment, moisture‐pressure‐volume diagram, air permeability and drop‐shatter tests are discussed. Our review reveals that there is limited information on the dry limit and the range of water content for soil workability for different textured soils. We identify the need for further research to evaluate soil workability on undisturbed soils using a combination of SWRC and the drop‐shatter tests or tensile strength; (i) to quantify the effects of soil texture, organic matter and compaction on soil workability; and (ii) to compare soil water content for workability in the field with theoretical soil workability, thereby improving the prediction of soil workability as part of a decision support system for tillage operations.     

Effects of soil water content during primary tillage – laser measurements of soil surface changes

Soil water content during tillage can have a large impact on soil properties and tillage outcome. Measurement of soil relief in relation to fixed elevation points provides a non-destructive method of monitoring loosening/compacting processes during the year. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of soil water content during primary tillage on soil physical properties.

The treatments included mouldboard and chisel ploughing of a clay soil on three occasions in the autumn, with gradually increasing water content (0.76, 0.91 and 1.01 × plastic limit). Soil surface height was measured by laser within a 0.64 m² area from fixed steel plates after each tillage occasion, and before and after seedbed preparation in the following spring. The measurements of surface height were compared with measurements of other soil physical properties, such as bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity and seedbed properties.

Tillage at the lowest water content (0.76 × plastic limit) produced the greatest proportion of small aggregates, and generally the most favourable soil conditions for crop growth. Soil loosening, as measured by increase in soil height during primary tillage, was highest for mouldboard ploughing and for tillage at the lowest water content. Differences between tillage treatments decreased with time, but were still significant after sowing in the spring. Natural consolidation during winter was smaller than the compaction during seedbed preparation in the spring. No significant differences in bulk density were found between treatments, and thus soil surface height was a more sensitive parameter than bulk density determined by core sampling to detect differences between treatments.

Late tillage under wet conditions caused a greater roughness of the soil surface and the seedbed base, which was also found in the traditional seedbed investigation. The effect of tillage time on seedbed properties also resulted in a lower number of emerged plants in later tillage treatments.

The laser measurements were effective for studying changes in soil structure over time. The results emphasize the need to determine changes in soil physical properties for different tillage systems over time in order to model soil processes.     

Soil physical properties of selected soil series in relation to compaction and erosion on farmers’ fields at Abeokuta,southwestern Nigeria

This study evaluated physical properties of selected soil series and their implications on the soil compaction and erosion in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigeria. Daily rainfall data (1999–2007) were collected to estimate the rainfall erosivity. Seven soil series (Iwo, Iseyin, Ekiti, Jago, Okemesi, Apomu, and Egbeda) were sampled from 0–15, 15–30, and 30–50 cm depths for particle size distribution, organic carbon, pH, upper plastic limit, and compactibility (Proctor test). Microtopographical changes along and across toposequences of two farmers’ fields cleared mechanically and manually, respectively, were monitored using the erosion pin method. Mean annual erosivity (EI30) was high (7646 MJ mm ha^?1 hr^?1). Particle size, organic carbon, and pH were similar (p ≥ 0.05), while upper plastic moisture was ≤?2% among different soil series. Soil-moisture density curves indicated a maximum bulk density of 1.77–1.99 g cm^?3 for a moisture range of 7.6–14%; while the soils were prone to compaction at low moisture content. Microtopographic changes were found between –2 and 0 cm and –8 and –2 cm on mechanically and manually cleared farmland, respectively. Spatial dependence showed that the soil erosion could be predicted within 5–8 m distance. To avoid erosion and compaction, soil water content should be less than 7.6% before the introduction of mechanical tillage.     

Belowground Attributes on Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands over a 40‐year Chronosequence

Reclamation following mining activities often aims to restore stable soils that support productive and diverse native plant communities. The soil re‐spread process increases soil compaction, which may alter soil water, plant composition, rooting depths, and soil organic matter. This may have a direct impact on vegetation establishment and species recruitment. Seasonal wet/dry and freeze/thaw patterns are thought to alleviate soil compaction over time. However, this has not been formally evaluated on reclaimed landscapes at large scales. Our objectives were to (1) determine soil compaction alleviation, (2) rooting depth, and (3) spatial patterns of soil water content over a time‐since‐reclamation gradient. Soil resistance to penetration varied by depth, with shallow compaction remaining unchanged, but deeper compaction increased over time rather than being alleviated. Root biomass and depth did not increase with time and was consistently less than the values in the reference location. Plant communities initially had a strong native component, but quickly became dominated by invasive species following reclamation, and soil water content became increasingly homogeneous over the 40‐year chronosequence. Seasonal weather patterns and soil organic matter additions can reduce soil compaction if water infiltration is not limited. Shallow and strongly fibrous‐rooted grasses present in reclaimed sites added organic matter to shallow soil layers, but did not penetrate the compacted layers and allow water infiltration. Strong linkages between land management strategies, soil properties, and vegetation composition can advance reclamation efforts and promote heterogeneous landscapes. However, current post‐reclamation management strategies are incompletely utilizing natural seasonal weather patterns to reduce soil compaction. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of Tillage Methods on Soil Carbon and Wind Erosion

Current interest in soil‐conserving tillage in China has developed from the concern that Chinese agricultural land loses 73·8 Mg C annually. Previous research has shown that changing from conventional tillage to conservation tillage field management increases soil C sequestration. The aim of this study is to determine if no tillage with stubble retention can reduce soil carbon loss and erosion compared with conventional tillage for a cornfield in northern China. We found that soil organic C storage (kg m⁻²) under conservation tillage in the form of no post‐harvest tillage with stubble retention increased from 28% to 62% in the soil depths of 0–30 cm (p < 0·01) compared with the conventional tillage. Retaining post‐harvest stubble with a height of 30 cm and incorporating the stubble into the soil before seeding the next spring increased soil organic carbon the most. Carbon storage (kg ha⁻¹) in aboveground and belowground biomass of the corn plants in seedling and harvest stages was significantly greater (p < 0·01) with stubble retention treatments than with conventional tillage. Carbon content in root biomass in all treatments with stubble retention was significantly greater than that with conventional tillage. Soil erosion estimates in the study area under conservation tillage with stubble retention was significantly lower than that under conventional tillage during the monitoring period. Given the complexities of agricultural systems, it is unlikely that one ideal farming practice is suitable to all soils or different climate conditions, but stubble retention during harvesting and incorporation of the stubble into soil in the next spring appears to be the best choice in the dry northern China where farmlands suffer serious wind erosion. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同耕作深度对红壤坡耕地耕层土壤特性的影响

红壤坡耕地不同耕作深度对耕层质量和作物产量具有重要影响。以江西红壤坡耕地示范区耕层为研究对象,从土壤属性角度,对红壤坡耕地不同耕作深度处理下垂直深度土壤水分、容重、孔隙度、土壤紧实度、土壤抗剪强度、土壤有机质、有效磷和速效钾等进行分析。结果表明:(1)不同耕作深度对土壤孔隙度、饱和含水量和田间持水量的影响为免耕翻耕20 cm翻耕10 cm常规耕作翻耕30 cm,对容重的影响为翻耕30 cm常规耕作翻耕10 cm免耕翻耕20 cm;与常规耕作比较,翻耕30 cm使土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量和土壤孔隙度分别提高了18.17%,12.67%,5.94%,土壤容重降低6.90%。(2)不同耕作深度下土壤紧实度表现为翻耕30 cm翻耕10 cm翻耕20 cm免耕常规耕作,土壤抗剪强度表现为翻耕30 cm常规耕作翻耕10 cm免耕翻耕20 cm;与常规耕作对照,翻耕30 cm使土壤紧实度和抗剪强度分别降低27.07%和24.82%。(3)土壤有机质含量以翻耕20 cm处理下最高(13.48 g/kg),免耕处理含量最低(9.39 g/kg),土壤速效养分主要集中分布在0-20 cm土层,但20-40 cm土层中翻耕处理较免耕处理有不同程度的增加,以翻耕20 cm和常规耕作表现显著。(4)主成分分析结果表明,翻耕30 cm处理对红壤坡耕地土壤的综合改善效果最好。研究结果可为红壤坡耕地耕层土壤改善和合理耕层构建提供技术参考。     

Spatial distributions of soil chemical and physical properties prior to planting soybean in soil under ridge‐, no‐ and conventional‐tillage in a maize–soybean rotation

Detailed information on the profile distributions of agronomically important soil properties in the planting season can be used as criteria to select the best soil tillage practices. Soil cores (0–60 cm) were collected in May, 2012 (before soybean planting), from soil transects on a 30‐yr tillage experiment, including no‐tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT) and mouldboard plough (MP) on a Brookston clay loam soil (mesic Typic Argiaquoll). Soil cores were taken every 19 cm across three corn rows and these were used to investigate the lateral and vertical profile characteristics of soil organic carbon (SOC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil volumetric water content (SWC), bulk density (BD), and penetration resistance (PR). Compared to NT and MP, the RT system resulted in greater spatial heterogeneity of soil properties across the transect. Average SOC concentrations in the top 10 cm layer were significantly greater in RT than in NT and MP (P = 0.05). NT soil contained between 0.8 and 2.5% (vol/vol) more water in the top 0–30 cm than RT and MP, respectively. MP soil had lower PR and BD in the plough layer compared to NT and RT soils, with both soil properties increasing sharply with depth in MP. The RT had lower PR relative to NT in the upper 35 cm of soil on the crop rows. Overall, RT was a superior conservation tillage option than NT in this clay loam soil; however, MP had the most favourable soil conditions in upper soil layers for early crop development across all treatments.     

土地耕作后微生物量碳和水溶性有机碳的动态特征

采用野外观测与室内模拟试验相结合的方法,研究了湿地土壤和垦殖10年的农田耕作后土壤呼吸通量、微生物量碳、土壤基础呼吸、土壤qCO2值、水溶性有机碳的动态特征。研究结果表明:小叶章湿地耕作后,土壤含水量明显下降(p<0.05);土壤CO2通量在最初的1~2 d形成一个排放高峰,农田耕作土壤CO2通量一直显著高于未耕作土壤(p<0.01)。农田土壤微生物量碳含量显著低于小叶章湿地(p<0.001)。在耕作后最初的1~3 d,湿地和农田土壤微生物量碳均没有显著的变化;之后,土壤微生物量碳迅速增加,显著高于未耕作土壤。观测时间内,耕作农田土壤微生物量碳含量始终显著高于未耕作土壤(p<0.01)。垦殖10年农田土壤耕作后,对土壤水溶性有机碳含量无显著影响。湿地耕作后,土壤水溶性有机碳迅速增加。在耕作后80 d内,土壤水溶性有机碳含量显著高于未耕作土壤(p<0.01)。之后,则低于未耕作土壤。     

水保措施对红壤坡地柑橘林土壤呼吸及其水热因子的影响

[目的]探讨不同水土保持措施对红壤坡地柑橘林土壤呼吸的影响,为科学评价水土保持生态建设在应对气候变化方面的作用提供基础数据。[方法]采用试验观测和对比分析的方法研究横坡间作+等高草带、横坡间作、顺坡间作和清耕对照4种处理对柑橘林土壤呼吸速率的动态变化及其对土壤温度、土壤水分的响应。[结果]4个不同处理的柑橘林土壤呼吸速率均呈明显的单峰曲线变化,峰值出现在7月;各处理的土壤呼吸速率季节动态变化一致,采取横坡间作+等高草带和横坡间作两种水保措施均一定程度上增加了土壤呼吸速率;土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈显著正相关;横坡间作+等高草带和横坡间作处理的土壤呼吸的温度敏感性指数Q10较柑橘清耕和顺坡间作处理Q10值略有增加。[结论]红壤柑橘林采取水土保持措施后,土壤呼吸速率增强,且其对温度的响应增加。     

Dissolved and Soil Organic Carbon after Long‐Term Conventional and No‐Tillage Sorghum Cropping

Abstract

Distribution of dissolved (DOC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) with depth may indicate soil and crop‐management effects on subsurface soil C sequestration. The objectives of this study were to investigate impacts of conventional tillage (CT), no tillage (NT), and cropping sequence on the depth distribution of DOC, SOC, and total nitrogen (N) for a silty clay loam soil after 20 years of continuous sorghum cropping. Conventional tillage consisted of disking, chiseling, ridging, and residue incorporation into soil, while residues remained on the soil surface for NT. Soil was sampled from six depth intervals ranging from 0 to 105 cm. Tillage effects on DOC and total N were primarily observed at 0–5 cm, whereas cropping sequence effects were observed to 55 cm. Soil organic carbon (C) was higher under NT than CT at 0–5 cm but higher under CT for subsurface soils. Dissolved organic C, SOC, and total N were 37, 36, and 66%, respectively, greater under NT than CT at 0–5 cm, and 171, 659, and 837% greater at 0–5 than 80–105 cm. The DOC decreased with each depth increment and averaged 18% higher under a sorghum–wheat–soybean rotation than a continuous sorghum monoculture. Both SOC and total N were higher for sorghum–wheat–soybean than continuous sorghum from 0–55 cm. Conventional tillage increased SOC and DOC in subsurface soils for intensive crop rotations, indicating that assessment of C in subsurface soils may be important for determining effects of tillage practices and crop rotations on soil C sequestration.     

Of macropores and tillage: influence of biomass incorporation on cover crop decomposition and soil respiration

Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils may help to reduce global greenhouse gas concentrations, but building up soil carbon levels requires accumulating organic matter faster than it is lost via heterotrophic respiration. Using field and laboratory studies, this study sought to elucidate how tillage, the below‐ground incorporation of cover crop residue, and soil macroporosity affect soil respiration and residue decomposition rates. In the field, residue from a cover crop mixture of barley (Hordeum vulgare ) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum ) was placed into litter bags that were left on the surface versus incorporated into the soil at three depths (4, 8 or 12 cm), while the laboratory study compared surface‐placed versus incorporated litter (8 cm depth). To assess tillage effects on cover crop decomposition, the field study simulated no‐till and conventional tillage treatments, while the laboratory and field studies both included treatments in which artificial soil macropores were created. The field study showed that conventional tillage and the presence of macropores enhanced soil respiration, while in the laboratory study, incorporating cover crop residue resulted in higher soil respiration and faster litter decomposition rates. Additionally, the laboratory measurements showed that macropores increased soil respiration in wet conditions, likely by enhancing oxygen diffusion. Thus, organic matter incorporation and macropores may represent important factors that affect soil respiration and carbon dynamics.     

SoilFlex‐LLWR: linking a soil compaction model with the least limiting water range concept

Soil compaction impacts growing conditions for plants: it increases the mechanical resistance to root growth and modifies the soil pore system and consequently the supply of water and oxygen to the roots. The least limiting water range (LLWR) defines a range of soil water contents within which root growth is minimally limited with regard to water supply, aeration and penetration resistance. The LLWR is a function of soil bulk density (BD), and hence directly affected by soil compaction. In this paper, we present a new model, ‘SoilFlex‐LLWR’, which combines a soil compaction model with the LLWR concept. We simulated the changes in LLWR due to wheeling with a self‐propelled forage harvester on a Swiss clay loam soil (Gleyic Cambisol) using the new SoilFlex‐LLWR model, and compared measurements of the LLWR components as a function of BD with model estimations. SoilFlex‐LLWR allows for predictions of changes in LLWR due to compaction caused by agricultural field traffic and therefore provides a quantitative link between impact of soil loading and soil physical conditions for root growth.     

Short-term organic matter mineralisation following different types of tillage on a Swedish clay soil

Reduced tillage is proposed as a method of C sequestration in agricultural soils. However, tillage effects on organic matter turnover are often contradictory and data are lacking on how tillage practices affect soil respiration in northern Europe. This field study (1) quantified the short-term effects of different tillage methods and timing on soil respiration and N mineralisation and (2) examined changes in aggregate size distribution due to different tillage operations and how these relate to soil respiration. The study was conducted on Swedish clay soil (Eutric Cambisol) and compared no-tillage with three forms of tillage applied in early or late autumn 2010: mouldboard ploughing to 20–22 cm and chisel ploughing to 12 or 5 cm depth. Soil respiration, soil temperature, gravimetric water content, mineral N and aggregate size distribution were measured. The results showed that respiration was significantly higher (P?<?0.001) in no-till than in tilled plots during the 2 weeks following tillage in early September. Later tillage gave a similar trend but treatments did not differ significantly. Soil tillage and temperature explained 56 % of the variation in respiration. In the early tillage treatment, soil respiration decreased with tillage depth. Mineral N status was not affected by tillage treatment or timing. Soil water content did not differ significantly between tillage practices and therefore did not explain differences in respiration. The results indicate that conventional tillage in early autumn may reduce short-term soil respiration compared with chisel ploughing and no-till in clay soils in northern Europe.