Subsoiling and surface tillage effects on soil physical properties and forage oat stand and yield

Much of New Zealand's agriculture integrates animal and crop production on poorly drained, easily compacted soils. We hypothesized that soil properties affecting forage oat (Avena sativa, cv Awapuni) establishment on land compacted by 15 years of conventional cropping might be influenced by various subsoiling and surface tillage combinations. Plots on a Moutoa silty clay (Typic Haplaquoll) were paraplowed (P), deep subsoiled (V), shallow subsoiled (S), or were left as non-subsoiled controls (C). Subsequently, the surface 15 cm was surface-tilled (T) using a power rotary-tiller and firmed with a Cambridge roller or were not tilled (N). Oats were then sown with a cross-slot drill. Subsoiling greatly reduced soil strength. Cone indices showed disruption to 40 cm with P, 36 cm for V, and 30 cm for S. Approximately 60% of profile cone indices to a depth of 0.5 m from subsoiled treatments were less than 1.5 MPa, compared to approximately 30% for C. T slightly improved strength distribution in non-subsoiled controls but had little effect in subsoiled treatments. Subsoiling without T continued to show improved profile cone index cumulative frequency 233 days after subsoiling. Subsoiling after T in this high rainfall climate eliminated most of the separation in cumulative frequency of soil profile cone index values by two weeks after T. T reduced emergence from 142 to 113 plants per square meter and reduced yield from 5318 to 3679 kg ha⁻¹. Forage yield increased from 3974 to 4674 kg ha⁻¹ with subsoiling. Soil porosity, saturated and slightly unsaturated hydraulic conductivities (K_SAT and K₋₄₀) and air permeability were highly variable but generally increased with subsoiling. Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) (using Pt microelectrodes) was also variable, but N and C treatments had consistently lower ODRs than T or subsoiled treatments. Generally, subsoiling without T produced better soil conditions and oat crop performance than the prevailing New Zealand practice of T without subsoiling.     

微孔深松耕降低土壤紧实度提高棉花产量与种籽品质

长期传统耕作导致土壤紧实形成犁底层是影响农田土壤质量和作物生长的关键障碍因子之一。为解决这一问题,于2013年4月至2014年5月在山西运城南花农场开展为期1 a的大田试验,对比研究微孔深松耕技术和旋耕机旋耕15~20 cm的传统耕作方法对土壤紧实度以及棉籽品质性状和生长发育的影响。结果表明:微孔深松耕技术较传统耕作方式,棉花苗期犁底层40 cm处土壤紧实度由9 069.70降低到558.80 k Pa,吐絮期犁底层40 cm处的土壤紧实度由8 089.70降低到1 174.20 k Pa,吐絮期0~40 cm土层中微孔深松耕土壤容重最大为1.05 g/cm3,传统耕作最大为1.56 g/cm3;在30 cm土层中,微孔深松耕的总根量比传统耕作方式多187.03%;微孔深松耕处理棉株棉铃的5室铃率较传统耕作增加15.00%,每个棉瓤的种子数平均增加1~2粒;棉籽的籽指、密度、绒长均明显增加,脂肪含量显著降低(P0.05),蛋白质含量显著增加(P0.05),单株铃数比传统耕作增加6.34%,铃质量增加5.75%,皮棉产量增加10.12%。效益分析表明,采用微孔穴深松耕作种植棉花,每公顷净收益增加3 338.00元。该研究揭示了微孔深松耕作可有效打破犁底层,具有疏松土壤紧实度,并提高棉籽品质增加棉花产量,为该项技术应用于生产提供试验依据。     

Subsoiling: Time dependency of its beneficial effects

On a silt loam soil, the reaction of crop growth after subsoiling a plough pan was studied during 4 successive years. The mean yield increase for cereals and sugar beets varied between 5 and 10%.In order to determine the duration of the beneficial effects of subsoiling, 2 extra plots were subsoiled on the studied field in the autumn of the fourth year.At that time, penetration-resistance values on the first subsoiled treatment approached 3MPa, the limit-value for non-restricted root growth. Besides penetration-resistance measurements, root growth and nutrient and water uptake from the subsoil by winter wheat also pointed to a slight decline of the previous beneficial effects on the first subsoiled plot during the fifth year.However a yield increase, comparable with the mean increase for the previous 4 years on the studied soil, was still detected during the fifth growing season after the removal of a plough pan.     

The adoption of annual subsoiling as conservation tillage in dryland maize and wheat cultivation in northern China

Soil compaction caused by random traffic or repetitive tillage has been shown to reduce water use efficiency, and thus crop yield due to reduced porosity, decreased water infiltration and availability of nutrients. Conservation tillage coupled with subsoiling in northern China is widely believed to reduce soil compaction, which was created after many years of no-till. However, limited research has been conducted on the most effective time interval for subsoiling, under conservation tillage. Data from conservation tillage demonstration sites operating for 10 years in northern China were used to conduct a comparative study of subsoiling interval under conservation tillage. Three modes of traditional tillage, subsoiling with soil cover and no-till with soil cover were compared using 10 years of soil bulk density, water content, yield and water use efficiency data. Cost benefit analysis was conducted on subsoiling time interval under conservation tillage. Yield and power consumption were assessed by based on the use of a single pass combine subsoiler and planter. Annual subsoiling was effective in reducing bulk density by only 4.9% compared with no-till treatments on the silty loam soils of the Loess plateau, but provided no extra benefit in terms of soil water loss, yield increase or water utilization. With the exception of bulk density, no-till and subsoiling with cover were vastly superior in increasing water use (+10.5%) efficiency and yield (+12.9%) compared to traditional tillage methods. Four years of no-till followed by one subsoiling reduced mechanical inputs by 62%, providing an economic benefit of 49% for maize and 209% for wheat production compared to traditional tillage. Annual subsoiling reduced inputs by 25% with an increased economic benefit of 23% for maize and 135% for wheat production. Yield and power consumption was improved by 5% and 20%, respectively, by combining subsoiling with the planting operation in one pass compared with multipass operations of subsoiling and planting. A key conclusion from this is that annual subsoiling in dryland areas of northern China is uneconomical and unwarranted. Four years of no-till operations followed by 1 year subsoiling provided some relief from accumulated soil compaction. However, minimum soil disturbance and maximum soil cover are key elements of no-till for saving water and improving yields. Improved yields and reduced farm power consumption could provide a significant base on which to promote combined planter and subsoiling operations throughout northern China. Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the linkages between conservation tillage, soil quality and yield, aimed at designing most appropriate conservation tillage schemes.     

The consequences of wheel-induced soil compaction and subsoiling for silage maize on a sandy loam soil in Belgium

In Belgium, growing silage maize in a monoculture often results in increased soil compaction. The aim of our research was to quantify the effects of this soil compaction on the dry matter (DM) yields and the nitrogen use of silage maize (Zea mays L.). On a sandy loam soil of the experimental site of Ghent University (Belgium), silage maize was grown on plots with traditional soil tillage (T), on artificially compacted plots (C) and on subsoiled plots (S). The artificial compaction, induced by multiple wheel-to-wheel passages with a tractor, increased the soil penetration resistance up to more than 1.5 MPa in the zone of 0–35 cm of soil depth. Subsoiling broke an existing plough pan (at 35–45 cm of soil depth). During the growing season, the release of soil mineral nitrogen by mineralisation was substantially lower on the C plots than on the T and S plots. Silage maize plants on the compacted soil were smaller and flowering was delayed. The induced soil compaction caused a DM yield loss of 2.37 Mg ha⁻¹ (−13.2%) and decreased N uptake by 46.2 kg ha⁻¹ (−23.2%) compared to the T plots. Maize plants on compacted soil had a lower, suboptimal nitrogen content. Compared with the traditional soil tillage that avoided heavy compaction, subsoiling offered no significant benefits for the silage maize crop. It was concluded that avoiding heavy soil compaction in silage maize is a major strategy for maintaining crop yields and for enhancing N use efficiency.     

The effects of in-row subsoil tillage and soil water on corn yields in the southeastern coastal plain of the United States

Soil erosion is a problem in the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the U.S.A. where clean tillage row cropping exists without adequate soil conserving practices. Conservation tillage practices in the region have frequently incorporated in-row subsoiling to overcome root restricting soil layers 0.20 to 0.35 m below the surface. A number of studies have been conducted to determine the benefits of in-row subsoiling and results have been contradictory. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between in-row subsoil and non-subsoil tillage treatments, soil water, and corn grain yields.The study was conducted for two years on an Orangeburg sandy loam (Typic Paleudult). The study contained irrigated and non-irrigated treatments. The four tillage treatments used were (T₁) in-row subsoiler followed by a double disk bedder, (T₂) double disk bedder, (T₃) fluted coulter followed by in-row subsoiler and slot filler tines, and (T₄) fluted coulter. Tillage and planting were accomplished simultaneously. Each corn (Zea Mays L. ‘Dekalb XL72B’) crop was preceded by fall-planted wheat and the wheat (Triticum aestivium L. “Coker 747”) was killed with herbicides in the spring before corn planting. Wheat mulch was disked in prior to the bedding treatments and left undisturbed for the two fluted coulter treatments. Corn was planted 0.04 m deep with double disk openers. Soil water potential was maintained above 0.05 MPa in the irrigated corn plots. Forty kg/ha of N was applied at planting and followed 42 days later with eight weekly applications of 50 kg/ha N.In-row subsoiling and irrigation treatments significantly increased grain yields. Irrigated corn grain yields were 12333 and 7872 kg/ha in 1978 and 1979, respectively. Non-irrigated corn yields were 7697 and 4892 kg/ha in 1978 and 1979, respectively. In-row subsoiled to a depth of 0.36 m and non-subsoiled grain yields were 8577 and 7820 kg/ha, respectively. There was no significant difference between bedding and fluted coulter treatments.     

不同机械深耕的改土及促进作物生长和增产效果

长期不合理耕作导致土壤结构性能恶化、土壤耕性变差,限制作物根系下扎、影响土壤生产潜力发挥。为了改善土壤耕层构造,该试验采用自主研发的改土机械ES-210型深松犁和前置式心土(亚表层)耕作犁进行深耕,以灭茬旋耕(常规耕作)为对照,进行大区耕作对比试验。结果表明:1)深松、亚表层耕作处理与对照相比,耕层土壤固相率分别降低1.6%~3.3%、2.8%~4.5%,液相、汽相相对增加,三相比更趋于合理化;打破犁底层,降低耕层土壤硬度,其中20~35 cm土层效果更为明显;耕层土壤有效水含量上升1.1%~1.2%、0.9%,束缚水(无效水)含量下降0.4%~1.1%、0.5%~0.9%。2)深松、亚表层耕作处理比对照根长增长,其中甜菜增长5.1%、2.9%,大豆增长11.5%、13.2%;干物质积累量增加,其中甜菜增加2.3%~4.1%、3.1%~4.8%,大豆增加7.8%~10.0%、10.4%~13.6%;3)深松、亚表层耕作处理与对照相比,其中甜菜增产8.5%、12.6%;大豆增产5.0%、6.1%;深松及亚表层耕作改土处理分别比对照增收1003.3、1454.4元/hm2,其中收益大小为亚表层耕作处理深松处理对照。可见,采用ES-210深松犁及心土耕作犁深耕改土,改变了土壤耕层构造,起到扩库增容的效果;改善了作物根系生长环境,提高了作物产量,为今后农业耕作机械的发展提供了技术支撑。     

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

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

Soil Ca, Al, acidity and penetration resistance with subsoiling, lime and gypsum treatments

Abstract. Crop growth on strongly weathered soils is often limited by soil compaction in addition to aluminium toxicity and/or calcium deficiency. This study examines the effects of subsoiling, lime and gypsum on penetrometer resistance, acidity, aluminium and calcium levels and cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) root growth on soils transitional between Cecil and Appling series (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludults) in the Piedmont region of Georgia, USA. The main plots were subsoiled to depths of 0.35 or 0.80 m or untreated. Dolomitic limestone (0 or 4.03 t per hectare on subplots) and phosphogypsum (0 or 10 t per hectare on sub-subplots) were incorporated into the surface soil (0.15 m). Deep subsoiling (0.80 m depth) decreased penetrometer resistance at 0.3–0.5 m depth and increased yield in two of three years, but there was no response to shallow subsoiling (0.35 m depth). Lime increased yield when surface soil water pH prior to amendment was less than a Cate-Nelson critical value of 4.6. Gypsum moved downward much more rapidly than lime, increasing soil solution calcium ion activity to a depth of 0.8 m within 5 months of application. There were differences in clay content between replicate plots and calcium movement was faster where the clay content was less. Yield responses to gypsum in 1986 were attributed to increased root growth below 0.2 m resulting from the increased calcium ion activity. Yield response to gypsum in limed sub-subplots was significant only in 1986.     

Verification of traffic-induced soil compaction after long-term ploughing and 10 years minimum tillage on clay loam soil in South-East Norway

Grain yields are presented from a 10-year field trial with four tillage regimes (annual ploughing, harrowing only, ploughing/harrowing alternate years and minimum tillage) on clay loam. We also present soil physical analyses and use the compaction verification tool (CVT) to assess compaction on plots with annual ploughing and minimum tillage, after using slurry tankers with contrasting wheel loads (4.1 Mg, 6.6 Mg) and wheeling intensities (1×/10×) in the 11th trial year, and yields monitored two years after compaction. Winter wheat yields in the period before compaction were strongly affected by tillage, with annual ploughing giving on average 24% higher yield than direct drilling. Both wheat and oats were far less affected in treatments with harrowing only or ploughing/harrowing alternate years, on average within 6% of annual ploughing. Yields after compaction were affected by both previous tillage and compaction intensity. In the first year, single wheeling after annual ploughing gave 23% yield reduction with 4.1 Mg wheel load and 28% reduction with 6.6 Mg wheel load, whilst multiple wheeling gave 14% reduction at 6.6 Mg wheel load. Yield reductions after minimum tillage ranged from 63% (single wheeling with 4.1 Mg) to 100% (multiple wheeling with 6.6 Mg). Similar trends were found in the second year. The soil physical data indicated that all wheeling led to changes in bulk density, pore sizes and permeability in both topsoil and subsoil on both sampled tillage plots. However, effects in the subsoil were partly masked by the soil's high initial bulk density, partly due to its high clay content. The CVT, which plots air capacity against hydraulic conductivity, suggested some harmful compaction on both plots, with the minimum tillage plot being less affected than the ploughed plot. However, yield results did not support this conclusion, indicating that other factors limited yields on the minimum tilled plot.     

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

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

Rotary subsoiling newly planted winter wheat fields to improve infiltration in frozen soil

Water erosion and runoff can be severe due to poor infiltration through frozen soil in the dryland wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production region of the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA. For more than 70 years, farmers and researchers have used various methods of subsoiling to reduce runoff and erosion and to improve infiltration and soil moisture storage. The practice and equipment have evolved from chiseling continuous open channels across hillslopes to the rotary subsoiler that pits the soil. Farmers often subsoil wheat stubble after harvest, but do not employ this practice on newly planted winter wheat fields. These fields are especially vulnerable to erosion because of meager residue cover after a year of fallow. A 6-year field study was conducted in eastern Washington to determine the effect of rotary subsoiling in newly planted winter wheat on over-winter water storage, erosion, infiltration, and grain yield. There were two treatments, rotary subsoiling and control. The rotary subsoiler created one 40 cm-deep pit with 4 L capacity every 0.7 m². Natural precipitation did not cause rill erosion in either treatment because of mild winters during the study period. Net change in water stored over winter was significantly (P < 0.05) improved with rotary subsoiling compared to the control in 2 of 6 years. Grain yield was not affected by treatments in any year or when averaged over years. In 2003, we simulated rainfall for approximately 3 h at a rate of 18 mm/h on both subsoiled and control plots to determine runoff and erosion responses on frozen soils. Rotary subsoiling reduced runoff (P < 0.01) by 38%. Rotary subsoiling also significantly reduced erosion (P < 0.01) during the 20–45 min period after runoff had begun. The total quantities of eroded soils were 1.3 and 3.4 Mg/ha for the subsoiled and control treatments, respectively, with inter-rill the dominant erosion process. The average infiltration rate for the control treatment (3.3 mm/h) was half of the rate for the subsoiled treatment (6.6 mm/h), at the end of the 3 h simulation. Rotary subsoiling of newly-planted winter wheat can increase soil moisture stored over-winter and reduce runoff and soil loss on frozen soils, but the benefit of this practice for increasing grain yield has not been proven.     

华北典型区域土壤耕作方式对土壤特性和作物产量的影响

华北平原是我国重要的小麦玉米种植区,长期土壤旋耕免耕和秸秆全量还田带来耕层变浅、犁底层变厚和上移、土壤养分表聚等现象,通过耕作方式改变,解决上述问题对维持区域粮食生产有重要意义。试验以冬小麦-夏玉米轮作系统为研究对象,分别在代表华北平原高产区的栾城试验区和代表中低产区的南皮试验区进行,设置冬小麦播种前进行土壤深耕、深松、窄深松3种处理,以生产上常用的旋耕为对照。所有处理夏玉米季均采用土壤免耕播种,测定项目包括土壤容重、作物根系、作物产量和水分利用效率。结果表明,不同耕作方式对土壤特性和作物产量的影响具有区域差异。南皮试验区土壤深耕(松)显著地(P0.05)提高了作物产量,深耕、深松和窄深松处理的冬小麦产量比旋耕分别增加16.5%、19.3%和13.1%,夏玉米产量分别增加17.3%、16.2%和21.9%,周年产量分别增加16.9%、17.6%和17.8%;深耕、深松和窄深松处理间作物产量差异不显著。栾城试验区冬小麦、夏玉米产量和周年产量各处理之间差异不显著。土壤深耕、深松、窄深松和旋耕均能降低0～20 cm土层土壤紧实度和土壤容重。冬小麦播种后,与土壤耕作前比较,土壤深耕、深松和旋耕处理土壤紧实度南皮试验区分别平均降低71.6%和68.2%,栾城试验区分别降低88.8%和?7.7%,常用的旋耕模式在栾城试区没有降低土壤紧实度。小麦收获时不同耕作方式0～40cm土层的土壤容重均低于土壤耕作前的土壤容重,至夏玉米收获时不同耕作处理的土壤容重与耕作前基本一致,不同耕作处理对土壤容重的影响差异不显著。在南皮试验区, 3种耕作方式与旋耕相比,均显著提高了冬小麦和夏玉米水分利用效率;在栾城试验区,各处理冬小麦和夏玉米水分利用效率差异不显著。本研究结果显示在华北平原高产区连续实施土壤旋耕模式没有影响作物产量,而在中低产区实施土壤深耕或者深松模式更利于作物产量提高。     

Effects of in-row and interrow subsoiling and time of nitrogen application on growth, stomatal conductance and yield of strip-tilled corn

The use of in-row subsoilers in conservation tillage systems in soils underlaid by tillage pans increases rooting depth, root proliferation and water infiltration. Interrow subsoiling 5 weeks after planting, to coincide with sidedress nitrogen applications, might be a practical method for further increasing infiltration of water from irrigation and high-intensity showers. Corn (Zea mays L.) was strip-till planted and grown under irrigation for 2 years at one location and 1 year at another to study the effects of subsoiling, placement and timing of nitrogen application (157 kg ha⁻¹) on plant growth, stomatal conductance and yield. Treatments included (1) not subsoiled, N applied at planting; (2) subsoiled in-row at planting, N applied at planting; (3) not subsoiled, N applied 5 weeks after planting; (4) subsoiled in-row at planting, N applied 5 weeks after planting; (5) subsoiled interrow, and N applied 5 weeks after planting; and (6) subsoiled in-row at planting and interrow 5 weeks after planting, N applied 5 weeks after planting. Nitrogen applied 5 weeks after planting resulted in higher yields than when applied at planting. In-row subsoiling at planting, interrow subsoiling 5 weeks after planting and subsoiling in-row at planting plus interrow 5 weeks later resulted in increased stomatal conductance between irrigations. Delaying N application resulted in decreased stomatal conductance in treatments that were in-row subsoiled at planting. Grain yields were lower without than with subsoiling, especially when N was applied at planting. When water was not limiting, subsoiling interrow 5 weeks after planting was as effective in increasing grain yield as in-row subsoiling at planting. In one test, the highest grain yield (9.96 t ha⁻¹) resulted from the cumulative effect of subsoiling in-row at planting plus interrow 5 weeks later.     

Tillage effect on nutrient stratification in narrow- and wide-row cropping systems

Recent research has indicated that conservation systems with narrow-rows have potential for higher crop productivity on southeastern USA Coastal Plains Soil. The objective of this study was to determine how surface tillage and subsoiling affect nutrient distribution in the soil profile in narrow- and wide-row systems. A secondary objective was to determine the effect of row position on soil pH and nutrient concentrations in the wide-row system. Soil samples were collected in 1996 from plots that had been growing soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) double cropped with wheat (Tritiucum aestivum L.) for 3 years and then again in 1999 after 3 years of continuous corn (Zea mays L.). Narrow-row spacing was 19 cm for soybean and 38 cm for corn. Wide-row spacing was 76 cm for both soybean and corn. Wheat was grown in 19 cm wide-rows. Soil samples were randomly collected from throughout the plots in the narrow-row culture. In the wide-row culture, separate samples were collected from the row and from between rows. Treatments were surface tillage (disc tillage (DT) and no surface tillage (NT)), with different frequencies of subsoiling. The soil type was Goldsboro loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Aquic Kandiudult). Soil samples from four depths (the surface 5 cm of the A horizon, the remainder of the A horizon, the E horizon, and the top 7.5 cm of the B horizon) were analyzed for pH, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Nutrient concentrations and pH differed little between row spacings at any depth after either 3 or 6 years. Differences due to subsoiling appeared mainly due to nutrient removal as the treatments with more intense subsoiling had higher yield and lower concentrations of nutrients (except K). Concentrations of P, Mg, and Ca at the soil surface tended to be higher in NT than in DT, especially in the mid-rows of the 76 cm wide-row systems. The data suggest only small differences in soil nutrient stratification can be expected as growers adopt narrow-row crop production systems with intensive subsoiling.     

中国北方保护性耕作条件下深松效应与经济效益研究

保护性耕作技术是适应中国北方农业发展的一种新型耕作技术，它可以通过深松作业来消除因多年免耕出现的土壤变硬问题。目前对保护性耕作条件下深松的效应和经济效益缺乏深入的研究，在玉米深松过程中还出现的伤苗，功耗大和经济效益低等问题。该文试验研究了在中国北方保护性耕作示范基地上，从1993年开始，通过10多年的时间对保护性耕作条件下的深松效应，测定了传统耕作、深松覆盖和免耕覆盖3种不同耕作方式下的土壤容重、含水率，水分利用率和产量等数据，试验结果表明，在保护性耕作条件下，每4年对土壤深松一次可以解决土壤变硬问题，持续保持作物高的水分利用率和产量，并不需要年年深松。相对深松覆盖(年年深松)，4年免耕覆盖＋1年深松的耕作方式能提高25%左右的经济效益。同时，针对玉米深松过程中的问题，提出了玉米免耕播种和深松联合作业的方案，试验表明，玉米免耕播种和深松联合作业能有效解决玉米深松过程中出现的一系列问题，促进玉米生长，提高玉米产量，建议在中国北方玉米产区推广这一联合作业技术。     

耕作方式转变和秸秆还田对土壤活性有机碳的影响

深松是解决长期旋免耕后耕层浅薄化、亚表层(15~30 cm)容重增加等问题的有效方法之一,长期旋免耕后进行深松显著影响土壤有机碳及其组分的周转。为对比转变耕作方式对土壤活性有机碳(LOC)及碳库管理指数的影响,该研究基于连续6 a的旋耕转变为深松和免耕转变为深松定位试验,对比了2012-2014年长期旋免耕农田进行深松对农田土壤活性有机碳及碳库管理指数的影响。研究结果表明,耕作方式转变和秸秆还田均对土壤LOC含量、活性有机碳与有机碳的比例(LOC/SOC)和碳库管理指数产生显著影响。相对于原旋耕秸秆还田处理(RTS),虽然旋耕-深松秸秆还田处理(RTS-STS)提高了0~30 cm土层的LOC含量,但其土壤中LOC/SOC比例和碳库管理指数显著下降。而免耕-深松秸秆还田(NTS-STS)处理和耕作方式未转变的免耕秸秆还田处理(NTS)在0~10 cm土层其LOC含量无显著性差异,但NTS-STS处理显著提高LOC/SOC比例。耕作方式转变导致RTS-STS处理碳库管理指数随着土层的加深而逐渐降低,而NTS-STS处理则呈逐渐升高趋势。耕作、秸秆、年份、耕作与秸秆、耕作与年份及3者交互作用是导致耕作方式转变后各处理0~30 cm的LOC含量变化的主要作用力(P0.05)。秸秆还田条件下,将长期旋耕处理转变为深松可显著降低土壤SOC中的LOC比例,降低碳库管理指数,促进土壤碳库的稳定性;而长期免耕处理转变为深松能够显著提高土壤下层(10~30 cm)的土壤碳库活性。     

翻耕与压实对坡地土壤溶质迁移过程的影响

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

不同土壤耕作方式对东北风沙土区玉米田土壤质量及产量的影响

[目的]研究黑龙江省西部不同土壤耕作方式对玉米产量及土壤性状的影响,为该地区农业生产提供参考。[方法]比较常规耕作、旋耕、翻耕、深翻和超深翻耕作对玉米产量和土壤物理特性的影响。[结果]翻耕和超深翻耕作增加了土壤含水量和田间持水量,降低了耕层土壤渗透速率、土壤容重和土壤紧实度,但是增加犁底层土壤渗透速率、土壤容重和土壤紧实度。翻耕、深翻和超深翻处理耕层土壤三相结构距离(STPSD)和土壤结构指数(GSSI)较好;翻耕、深翻和超深翻处理显著降低犁底层土壤的GSSI,增加STPSD;旋耕处理没有显著影响犁底层土壤GSSI和STPSD。与常规耕作处理相比,翻耕和超深翻分别增加玉米产量7.6%和6.0%。翻耕比超深翻玉米产量高10.9%。深翻处理玉米产量为5.58t/hm2,比常规耕作减产8.1%。[结论]在不完全打破犁底层情况下,在黑龙江西部地区翻耕是比较理想的耕作方式。     

Benefits of site-specific subsoiling for cotton production in Coastal Plain soils

The negative impacts of soil compaction on crop yields can often be alleviated by subsoiling. However, this subsoiling operation is often conducted at unnecessarily deep depths wasting energy and excessively disturbing surface residue necessary for erosion control and improved soil quality. A corn (Zea mays L.)–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) rotation experiment was conducted over 4 years on a Coastal Plain soil with a hardpan in east-central Alabama to evaluate the potential for site-specific subsoiling (tilling just deep enough to eliminate the hardpan layer) to improve crop yields while conserving energy. Seed cotton yield showed benefits of subsoiling (2342 kg/ha) compared to the no-subsoiling treatment (2059 kg/ha). Averaging over all years of the study, site-specific subsoiling produced cotton yields (2274 kg/ha) statistically equivalent to uniform deep subsoiling at a 45 cm depth (2410 kg/ha) while not excessively disturbing surface soil and residues. Significant reductions in draft force were found for site-specific subsoiling (59% and 35%) as compared to uniform deep subsoiling at a 45 cm depth in shallow depth hardpan plots (25 cm) and medium depth hardpan plots (35 cm), respectively. Calculated fuel use for site-specific subsoiling was found to be reduced by 43% and 27% in the shallow and medium depth hardpan plots, respectively, as compared to uniform deep subsoiling in these same plots. Producers in the Coastal Plains who can determine (or who know) the depth of their root-impeding layer and perform site-specific subsoiling can have comparable cotton yields to traditional uniform depth subsoiling with reduced energy requirements.