Effect of mulch and tillage system on soil porosity under wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Crop residues and reduced tillage become current tendency in modifying tillage due to better water management, organic and nutrient supply and increasing crop production. This study was carried out to quantify the effect of fodder radish mulching and different tillage systems in wheat production. In 2004–2006 the field trial was set up on Luvic Chernozems derived from loess. This experiment consisted of two factors: tillage system (conventional or reduced) and mulch (with or without). The air–water properties of soil with particular focus on macropore characteristics were investigated.The tillage system and mulch application significantly influenced physical properties of investigated soil. Reduced tillage, without mouldboard plough, increased the soil density with respect to conventional tillage. However, in the upper soil layer (0–10 cm) with mulch residues the bulk density decreased and reached the similar value as those obtained at conventional tillage (1.25 g cm⁻³). The macroporosity of soil with conventional tillage (14.79%) was significantly higher in comparison with reduced tillage (6.55%). The mulch of fodder radish added at reduced tillage increased the macroporosity in pore diameter range of 50–500 μm. These changes referred to all shape classes: regular, irregular and elongated pores. The lowest transmission pores content (0.078 cm³ cm⁻³) was noticed at the reduced tillage without mulch at the 0–10 cm layer. Due to lack of differences in storage pores the tillage and mulching had no effect on both AWC (available water content) and PWC (productive water content) values. The higher value of AWC was noticed in the upper soil layer (0.198 cm³ cm⁻³ in average), whereas in the 10–20 cm soil layer it was 0.186 cm³ cm⁻³. Similar relation was recorded in PWC values, 0.165 and 0.154 cm³ cm⁻³, respectively. The results obtained in physical properties of soil reflected in wheat yields. The yields obtained at reduced tillage system without mulch (5.54 t ha⁻¹) were significant lower with respect to treatment when mulch applied (6.79 t ha⁻¹). The mulch residues did not affect yields at conventional tillage (6.53 t ha⁻¹ without mulch and 7.00 t ha⁻¹ with mulch). The main conclusion is that the mulching can help to avoid yield reduction in wheat production when reduced tillage is used.     

The effects of wheel-induced soil compaction on anchorage strength and resistance to root lodging of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Lodging is the permanent displacement of cereal stems from the vertical. Cereal plants growing in the edge rows next to both wheel tracks (‘tramlines’) and the gaps between experimental plots (‘inter-plot spaces’), which are traversed by farm vehicles during planting operations and agrochemical application, are less prone to lodge than plants growing elsewhere in fields and plots. Previous research has attributed this phenomenon to an increase in the stem strength of edge row plants, and hence their resistance to stem lodging, resulting from reduced competition between edge row plants for resources. However, this explanation gives no consideration to the anchorage strength of edge row plants, and hence their resistance to root lodging. Differences in soil and plant characteristics between the edge and centre rows of plots of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were examined on sand, silt and clay dominated soil types. Edge rows next to tramlines were investigated on the silt and clay soil types, whereas edge rows next to inter-plot spaces were investigated on the sand soil type. Edge row plants next to both tramlines and inter-plot spaces had 58.8% greater anchorage strength and hence resistance to root lodging than centre row plants. This was attributed to (1) greater soil compaction in the edge rows resulting from wheel traffic in the tramlines and inter-plot spaces, which increased the strength of the soil matrix surrounding the roots, and (2) greater plant root growth in the edge rows resulting from reduced competition. Bulk density, root plate spread and structural rooting depth were 19, 22, and 12% greater, respectively, in the edge rows of all soil types. The results suggest that in order to reduce lodging risk, energies should be directed towards identifying agricultural practices that optimise soil compaction in the seedbed without causing significant limitations to root growth.     

Effects of sowing date, tillage and residue management on productivity of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in northwest India

In southwestern region of Punjab in north India, sowing dates of cotton crop in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system are staggered from last week of April to mid of May depending upon the surface water supply from canal as ground water is not fit for irrigation. Further, farmers practice intensive cultivation for seedbed preparation and burning of wheat straw before sowing of cotton crop. With the present farmers’ practices, yields have become static and system has become non-profitable. Field experiments were conducted on Entisols for two rotations of cotton–wheat system during the years of 2004–2005 and 2005–2006 in split plot design to study the direct and interactive effects of date of sowing and tillage-plus-wheat residue management practices on growth and yield of cotton and wheat and to increase the profitability by reducing the tillage operations, which costs about 50% of the sowing cost. The pooled analysis showed that in cotton crop, there was a significant interaction between year × dates of sowing. Among different tillage-plus-wheat residue management practices yields were 23–39% higher in tillage treatments than minimum-tillage. In wheat, grain yield in tillage treatments were at par. Water productivity amongst the tillage treatments in cotton was 19–27% less in minimum tillage than others tillage treatments. Similar trend was found in wheat crop. Remunerability of the cotton–wheat system was more with a combination of reduced tillage in cotton and minimum tillage in wheat than conventional tillage.     

种植行距对冬小麦田土壤蒸发与水分利用的影响

农田土壤蒸发不参与作物的生理和生产过程,属非生产性无效耗水。本研究采用Micro-lysimeters(MLS)对不同种植行距的麦田土壤蒸发测定结果表明,土壤蒸发随种植行距的增加而增大,窄行距种植的小麦冠层盖度较大,有利于抑制土壤蒸发。整个生育期7.5cm、15.0cm和30.0cm行距土壤蒸发分别为89.1mm、104.2mm和121.9mm,以15cm为对照,7.5cm行距麦田对土壤蒸发的抑制率为14.5%,而30cm行距麦田土壤蒸发增加17.0%。     

土壤温度、水分胁迫和播种浓度对玉米种子萌发出苗的影响

萌发试验同时在实验室和田间进行。试验结果表明，当土壤含水量低于10%时，玉米种子将不能顺利萌发。温度变化可以加速种子萌发，田间条件下，50%种子萌发所需的积温范围为18.6-23.8℃，决定于昼夜的温差。播种深度影响出苗速率，50%出苗所需的时间播深8厘米比播深5厘米推迟半天（相当于积温3-5℃），80%出苗所需的时间播深8厘米比播深5厘米推迟1天（相当于积温7-10℃）。     

Nematode assemblages in the rhizosphere of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) depended on fertilisation and plant growth phase

Nematodes from rhizosphere soil of barley grown at three fertiliser treatments (control (0), NK and NPK) were studied in a field experiment. Sampling was done twice, during vegetative growth and flowering, respectively, to determine how fertiliser effects on nematode assemblages depended on plant growth phase. At the growth stage the proportion of fungal feeding nematodes (dominated by Aphelenchoides spp. and Aphelenchus sp.) was highest in NK. During flowering, the abundance and proportion of fungal feeders in the 0 and NPK plots had increased and reached a level similar to the NK plot. Overall densities of bacterial feeders (mainly Cephalobidae and Rhabditidae) were similar, but opportunistic bacterial feeders constituted a higher proportion in the fertilised plots compared to the unfertilised. Ectoparasitic plant feeders (Tylenchorhynchus sp.) were more numerous in NK and NPK than in the control at both sampling dates. Endoparasite (Pratylenchus spp.) numbers were lower in the NPK plot at the growth stage. Numbers of Tylenchidae increased between samplings. The classification of Tylenchidae as epidermal cell and root hair feeders as opposed to hyphal feeders is discussed. Results thus indicate that: (i) bacterial and especially fungal feeding nematodes are stimulated by unbalanced fertilisation; (ii) ectoparasitic plant feeders are stimulated by N-fertilisation, while migratory endoparasites are inhibited at high and balanced fertilisation; (iii) nutrient effects diminish after plants reach the flowering stage.     

Effect of aggregate size and soil water content on emergence of soybean (Glycine max, L. Merr.) and maize (Zea mays, L.)

Rapid wetting of irrigated soils often leads to slaking and slumping, and on drying a surface crust and hard-set conditions may occur. This results in reduced crop emergence unless the surface is kept moist. The effect of aggregate size and water content on the emergence of soybean and maize from an Entic chromustert (heavy cracking clay) was determined using pots of sieved aggregates with size ranges less than 1, 1–2, 2–5 and 5–15 mm at soil water contents of 15, 20 and 25 g (100 g)⁻¹. Unsieved soil was used as a control. Greatest emergence tended to occur from fine (1–2 mm) seedbeds compared with coarse (5–15 mm) seedbeds for both crops. A covered treatment, simulating a stubble mulch, resulted in greater emergence than an uncovered treatment for all water contents and aggregate sizes. Earlier emergence occurred from finer (less than 1 mm and 1–2 mm) seedbeds than from coarse (5–15 mm) seedbeds, and at the greatest water content used. Soil strength, measured with a shear vane, decreased with increasing water content and tended to be less on fine (1–2 mm) seedbeds compared with very fine (less than 1 mm) or coarse (5–15 mm) seedbeds. It is recommended that, for good emergence from this Entic chromustert, seedbeds be brought to a water content of 25 g (100 g)⁻¹ by capillary wetting to prevent hardsetting and consist of 1–2 or 2–5 mm aggregates for soybean and maize, respectively, and have a stubble mulch on the surface. This corresponds to an equivalent depth of water of 15 mm and 9 mm for soybean and maize, respectively, in the top 50 mm of the profile.     

Methods for predicting the optimum and the range of soil water contents for tillage based on the water retention curve

Information is needed on the range of soil water contents for tillage. The objective of the work was to develop methods for the prediction of the soil water contents at which tillage may be done satisfactorily. Three water contents are considered: the lower (dry) limit, the optimum water content, and the upper (wet) limit. This paper makes a synthesis of published results from tillage and soil physics experiments and also includes some new experimental results. The effects of tillage are considered in relation to some “fixed points” including the lower plastic limit, field capacity and a new fixed point “the inflection point”. These considerations lead to methods for prediction of the lower (dry) tillage limit, the optimum water content, and the upper (wet) tillage limit in terms of the parameters of the van Genuchten equation for soil water retention. Predictions can be made in terms of soil composition through the use of pedotransfer functions for the parameters of the van Genuchten equation. The new methods will enable the effects of soil degradation and climate change on tillage work days to be estimated. The results are potentially mappable using geographic information systems.     

保水剂与水分控制对辣椒生长及水分利用效率的影响研究

栽辣椒应用保水剂和实施 3种水分控制处理结果表明 ,施用保水剂对辣椒生长及水分利用效率有明显促进作用 ,辣椒叶面积、叶数、株高、生物量和水分利用效率均优于未施保水剂处理。水分控制对辣椒的影响表现为充分供水促进辣椒生长 ,水分胁迫延缓辣椒生长速度。灰色关联分析发现是否施用保水剂对辣椒生物量、叶面积、叶数、株高、干物质含量、根冠比与耗水量相关性的影响存在差异 ,施用保水剂处理耗水量与各性状关联度顺序依次为生物量 >茎叶干物质量 >根干物质量 >叶数 >株高 >叶面积 >根冠比 >干物质含量 ,而未施用保水剂处理耗水量与各性状关联度顺序依次为生物量 >叶数 >茎叶干物质量 >根干物质量 >株高 >叶面积 >干物质含量 >根冠比。     

水分调控对冬小麦同化物分配与水分利用效率的影响研究

试验研究 12个灌溉组合方式对冬小麦干物质积累与分配、产量和水分利用效率的影响结果表明 ,地面灌水条件下不同处理的地上部干物质积累量由高至低依次为田间持水量 65%的处理 >50 %的处理 >80 %的处理 ;地下 3 0cm、50cm和 10 0cm灌水条件下田间持水量 80 %的处理 >65%的处理 >50 %的处理。产量以地下 3 0cm灌水× 80 %田间持水量处理最高 ,为 6512 .4kg/hm2 ,地下 50cm灌水× 50 %田间持水量处理产量最低 ,为3 568.1kg/hm2 。保持相同田间持水量的灌水处理 ,随灌溉深度的增加其作物水分利用效率呈增大趋势。地下3 0cm灌水× 80 %田间持水量处理和地下 3 0cm灌水× 65%田间持水量处理是较合理的节水灌溉组合方式     

土壤水分状况对温室青茄水分利用和外观品质的影响

为确定温室青茄优质高效的灌溉指标, 采用小区试验方法, 研究了不同生育阶段土壤水分状况对滴灌条件下温室青茄耗水量、产量、水分利用效率及果实外观品质的影响。研究结果表明, 任何时段水分亏缺均会降低青茄的耗水量; 温室青茄果实大小、坐果数以及最终产量均随水分亏缺程度的增大而减小, 产量、水分利用均与耗水量呈现良好的二次抛物线关系, 最优耗水量在307.12~339.59 mm 之间。当青茄土壤水分(占田间持水量的百分比)下限控制在苗期60%~70%、开花坐果期和成熟采摘期均为70%时, 产量及坐果率较高, 水分利用效率较佳, 可作为滴灌条件下温室青茄适宜的土壤水分控制指标。     

Improvement of rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth in upland conditions with deep tillage and mulch

The productivity of upland rice in Japan as well as in the world is low and unstable owing to scarce and unpredictable rainfall. The objective of this study was to examine whether agronomic methods could enhance grain yield of upland rice. Four field experiments were conducted from 2001 to 2003 in Nishitokyo, Japan, under upland conditions with different water supplies, in order to quantify the effects of deep tillage combined with deep placement of manure (50-cm depth), straw mulch (6 t ha⁻¹), or their combinations on the growth and grain yield of rice. Mulch kept surface soil moisture higher than without mulch even at reproductive stage, and it increased yield to the greatest extent under the most favourable conditions with much rainfall before heading (i.e., 2003). Deep tillage with deep placement of manure induced deep root proliferation and higher nitrogen uptake, increasing biomass production, and panicle number, and consequently grain yield was enhanced under the two lowest yielding environments with less rainfall before heading. Rice plants with deep tillage with deep manure application without mulch tended to have lower leaf water potential and higher diffusion resistance during drought, and negative effects on grain filling and harvest index in some experiments compared with the control. When deep tillage with deep placement of manure was combined with mulching in two experiments in 2002 and 2003, grain yield always enhanced compared with the control (P < 0.10, 6.0 t ha⁻¹ versus 5.4 t ha⁻¹ on average), suggesting their synergetic mechanisms for yield increase and stabilization. The results showed that deep tillage or mulching can improve grain yield of rice under drought-prone rainfed upland conditions in a temperate climate on an Andosol, and their combination had more consistent and greater positive effects.     

Effect of seedbed cultivation and soil macrostructure on the establishment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Soil physical properties affect the establishment of crops; these properties are influenced by cultivation incurred during seedbed preparation and vary greatly depending upon the intensity of applications. However, there is little quantified data concerning the influence of cultivation upon the precise soil structural arrangement and the effects of this on crop establishment. The dynamics of soil macrostructure properties on a range of seedbeds and how they relate to crop establishment are considered in this paper. Significant interactions between cultivation techniques, soil physical properties, the soil macropore structure of the seedbed and the interaction with crop establishment were identified. The relationship between soil structure and crop establishment was highly significant, with increased pore space reducing final establishment numbers. An improvement to a previously developed model (soil quality of establishment (SQE)) was developed following the addition of soil macrostructure properties, accounting for improved predictability of between ca. 6% and 19% of the variation accounted across soil types, environmental conditions.     

Effects of conservation agriculture techniques on infiltration and soil water content in Zambia and Zimbabwe

The adoption of conservation agriculture (CA), based on minimal soil movement, permanent soil cover with crop residues or growing plants and crop rotation has advanced rapidly in the Americas and Australia over the last three decades. One of the immediate benefits of CA in dryland agriculture is improved rainfall-use efficiency through increased water infiltration and decreased evaporation from the soil surface, with associated decreases in runoff and soil erosion. This paper focuses on the effect of CA techniques on soil moisture relations in two researcher-managed trials in Zambia and Zimbabwe. In 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, we found significantly higher water infiltration on both sites on CA fields compared to conventionally ploughed fields. At Henderson Research Station, Zimbabwe, on a sandy soil, a direct seeded CA treatments had a 49% and 45% greater infiltration rate than the conventionally tilled plots after a simulated rainfall in both seasons. At Monze Farmer Training Centre, Zambia, on a finer-textured soil, the same treatment had 57% and 87% greater infiltration rate than the conventionally tilled control treatment in both seasons. Treatments that included reduced tillage and surface residue retention had less water runoff and erosion on runoff plots at Henderson Research Station, Zimbabwe. On average, soil moisture was higher throughout the season in most CA treatments than in the conventionally tilled plots. However, the full potential of CA in mitigating drought was not evident as there was no significant drought period in either season. Results suggest that CA has the potential to increase the productivity of rainfall water and therefore reduce the risk of crop failure, as was apparent at the Monze Farmer Training Centre, Zambia, in 2005/2006 when a period of moisture stress at tassling affected CA treatments less than the conventionally tilled treatment.     

Impact of profile water status on nitrogen use pattern of dry land barley under varying nitrogen levels

A field trial was carried out during 1993–94 and 1994–95 winter seasons on Udic Ustochrept to evaluate the performance of dryland barley under varying profile moisture status and nitrogen levels. Three levels of initial moisture status of the root zone profile were: wet (100% field capacity), moderately wet (50% field capacity) and dry (rainfed) as the main treatment. The sub treatments were 0, 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha^?1. During 15 to 60 days after sowing (DAS) availability of soil nitrogen and its uptake by the crop attained the highest values under wet regime. However, at 105 and 130 DAS dry moisture regime resulted in maximum values of both available soil nitrogen and plant nitrogen contents. In the same tune biomass production attained the higher values under wet regime as compared to the dry regime during 15 to 60 DAS and the trend was reverse at 105 DAS. Grain yield attained the highest value under dry regime followed by wet and moderately wet regimes. Irrespective of the profile moisture status both productivity and nitrogen use efficiency enhanced with the increase in nitrogen doses from 0 to 80 kg ha^?1. Role of nitrogen was more pronounced under wet regime.     

Effect of temperature on soil microbial biomass and its metabolic quotient in situ under different tillage systems

Variations in the microbial biomass and the in situ metabolic quotient (qCO₂) due to climatic conditions were determined in a typical soil from the Argentine Rolling Pampa. Microbial C was evaluated by fumigation-incubation and qCO₂ was calculated using soil respiration in the field. An inverse relationship between microbial C and soil temperature was fitted to a model (r ²=0.90, P=0.01). No significant association with the soil water content was detected because the soil was generally near field capacity and thus water availability did not limited microbial growth and activity. Values of qCO₂ increased (r ²=0.89, P=0.01) as the result of metabolic activatìon, likely induced by a higher maintenance energy requirement at high temperatures. The highest values of qCO₂ were obtained when microbial C was the lowest, which was attributed to self consumption of microbial C in the presence of high temperatures. Consequently, microbial C was generally higher (P=0.05) in winter than in summer. Therefore, when microbial C is used as an index of soil biological activity, the influence of temperature should be taken into account.     

Effects of tillage on soil microrelief, surface depression storage and soil water storage

Conservation of soil water is an important management objective for crop production in the semi-arid tropics where droughts are persistent. Identification of the best tillage methods to achieve this objective is thus imperative. The integrated effects of conservation tillage on soil micro topography and soil moisture on a sandy loam soil were evaluated. The field experiment consisted of five tillage treatments, namely tied ridging (TR), no till (NT), disc plough (DP), strip catchment tillage (SCT) and hand hoe (HH). Data measured in the field included soil moisture content, surface roughness, infiltration and sorghum grain yield. A depth storage model was used to estimate depression storage TR treatment and the higher the surface roughness, the greater the depression storage volume. Regression analysis showed that random roughness decreased exponentially with increase in cumulative rainfall. Higher moisture contents were associated with treatments having higher depressional storage. Infiltration rate was significantly higher in the tilled soils than the untilled soils. The DP treatment had the highest cumulative infiltration while NT had the lowest. The Infiltration model which was fitted to the infiltration data gave good fit. Grain yield was highest in TR and least in NT, whereas DP and HH had similar yields.     

Tillage and plastic mulch effects on soil properties and growth and yield of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) on an ultisol in southeastern Nigeria

Protected cultivation, mainly represented by plastic-film mulching, has greatly improved crop production worldwide since the 1950s. However, despite its widespread use in tropical USA, Europe and China, its use in sub-Saharan Africa is not widespread. A field experiment was conducted using cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) to evaluate the effects of two tillage systems (tilled and no-till) and plastic-film mulch (black and clear plastic-film mulch) on soil properties and cocoyam growth and yield in 2003 and 2004 planting seasons on a Typic paleudult in southeastern Nigeria. The experiment comprised six treatments and was laid out in the field using randomized complete block design replicated three times. Results showed that 70–80% of the corms emerged 7–8 days (21 days after planting [DAP]) earlier in both tilled and no-till plastic-film mulched plots when compared to the unmulched plots. At later stages of crop development, the plants in the tilled black plastic-film mulched plots were taller by 61–67% than those in the unmulched no-till plots, which had the lowest plant height (27–30 cm). At 98 DAP, there were no significant treatment differences in leaf area index (LAI) between tilled and no-till mulched plots with LAI of 15.5–19.8. However, LAI was reduced in both unmulched plots by 35–54% when compared to the mulched plots. On the average soil temperature was higher in plastic-film mulched plots than that under plots without mulch by about 2 °C. Results show significantly lower soil bulk density (between 1.10 and 1.26 Mg m⁻³) in both tilled clear and black plastic-film mulched plots when compared to the corresponding no-till clear or black plastic-film mulched plots (1.40–1.45 Mg m⁻³). For the two seasons studied volumetric water content (VWC) in tilled black plastic-film mulched plots were significantly higher than VWC in other mulched plots by between 10 and 38% in 2003 and between 17 and 30% in 2004. At harvest (270 DAP) the highest corm yield was obtained in tilled black plastic mulched plots (29.1 Mg ha⁻¹). This was higher (P = 0.05) than yields obtained in no-till, no mulch plots by 72%. Yields were also higher in tilled black plastic mulched plots when compared to tilled clear plastic mulched plots, no-till black plastic mulched plots and no-till clear plastic mulched plots by 29, 47 and 59%, respectively. These findings suggest that plastic mulched plots provide a better soil environment for cocoyam than unmulched plots and that tilled mulched plots especially tilled black plastic mulched plots provide superior edaphic environment for cocoyam when compared to other treatments used.     

Effects of soil compaction and arbuscular mycorrhiza on corn (Zea mays L.) nutrient uptake

Soil compaction is of great importance, due to its adverse effects on plant growth and the environment. Mechanical methods to control soil compaction may not be economically and environmentally friendly. Hence, we designed experiments to test the hypothesis that use of plant symbiotic fungi, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) may alleviate the stressful effects of soil compaction on corn (Zea mays L.) growth through enhancing nutrient uptake. AM continuously interact with other soil microorganisms and its original diversity may also be important in determining the ability of the fungi to cope with the stresses. Hence, the objectives were: (1) to determine the effects of soil compaction on corn nutrient uptake in unsterilized (S1) and sterilized (S2) soils, and (2) to determine if inoculation of corn with different species of AM with different origins can enhance corn nutrient uptake in a compacted soil. Using 2 kg weights, soils (from the field topsoil) of 10 kg pots were compacted at three and four levels (C1, C2, C3 and C4) (C1 = non-compacted control) in the first and second experiment, respectively. Corn (cv. 704) seeds were planted in each pot and were inoculated with different AM treatments including control (M1), Iranian Glomus mosseae (M2), Iranian G. etunicatum (M3), and Canadian G. mosseae, received from GINCO (Glomales In Vitro Collection), Canada (M4). Corn leaf nutrient uptake of N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were determined. Higher levels of compaction reduced corn nutrient uptake, however different species of AM and soil sterilization significantly increased it. The highest increase in nutrient uptake was related to P (60%) and Fe (58%) due to treatment M4S2C3. Although it seems that M3 and M4 may be the most effective species on corn nutrient uptake in a compacted soil, M2 increased nutrient uptake under conditions (C3 and C4 in unsterilized soil) where the other species did not. Through increasing nutrient uptake AM can alleviate the stressful effects of soil compaction on corn growth.     

The effect of tillage type and cropping system on earthworm communities, macroporosity and water infiltration

To test the assumption that changes to earthworm communities subsequently affect macroporosity and then soil water infiltration, we carried out a 3 year study of the earthworm communities in a experimental site having six experimental treatments: 2 tillage management systems and 3 cropping systems. The tillage management was either conventional (CT; annual mouldboard ploughing up to −30 cm depth) or reduced (RT; rotary harrow up to −7 cm depth). The 3 cropping systems were established to obtain a wide range of soil compaction intensities depending on the crop rotations and the rules of decision making. In the spring of 2005, the impact of these different treatments on earthworm induced macroporosity and water infiltration was studied. During the 3 years of observation, tillage management had a significant effect on bulk density (1.27 in CT and 1.49 mg m⁻³ in RT) whereas cropping system had a significant effect on bulk density in RT plots only. Tillage management did not significantly affect earthworm abundance but significantly influenced the ecological type of earthworms found in each plot (anecic were more abundant in RT). On the contrary cropping system did have a significant negative effect on earthworm abundance (104 and 129 ind. m⁻² in the less and most compacted plots, respectively). Significantly higher numbers of Aporrectodea giardi and lower numbers of Aporrectodea caliginosa were found in the most compacted plots. CT affected all classes of porosity leading to a significant decrease in the number of pores and their continuity. Only larger pores, with a diameter superior to 6 mm, however, were adversely affected by soil compaction. Tillage management did not change water infiltration, probably because the increase in macroporosity in RT plots was offset by a significant increase in soil bulk density. However, cropping system had a significant effect on water infiltration (119 vs 79 mm h⁻¹ in the less and most compacted plots, respectively). In RT plots, a significant correlation was observed between larger macropores (diameter > 6 mm) and water infiltration illustrating the potential positive effect of earthworms in these plots.