Deep tillage and traffic effects on subsoil compaction and sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) yields

The main function of deep tillage is to alleviate subsoil compaction, but how long do the benefits of this technique remain? Traffic on loose soil causes a significant increase in soil compaction. Subsoiling and chisel plowing were carried out at 450 and 280 mm depth, respectively on a compacted soil in the west Rolling Pampas region of Argentina. The draft required, physical soil properties, root growth, sunflower (Helianthus annus L. Merr.) yield and traffic compaction over the subsequent two growing seasons were measured. Cone penetrometer resistance was reduced and sunflower yields increased following deep tillage operations. Subsoil compaction caused changes to the root system of sunflower that affected shoot growth and crop yields. Although subsoiling and chiseling had an immediate loosening effect, it was evident that after just 2 years, when traffic intensity was >95 mg km ha⁻¹, re-compaction and settling had occurred in the 300–600 mm depth range.     

Tillage effects on selected physical properties of Grantsburg silt loam

Abstract

The objective of the project was to determine the effects of tillage on soil physical properties. A tillage project, involving three treatments with eight replications [no‐tillage (NT), chisel plowing (CP), and moldboard plowing (MP)], was initiated in the spring of 1989 in southern Illinois. The soil on which the work was conducted was a Grantsburg silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudalf), with a root‐restricting fragipan found at an average depth of 64 + 14 cm from the soil surface. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were grown on the plot area on a yearly rotation. The soil physical properties evaluated were: penetration resistance; bulk density; aggregate stability; and pore size distribution by water‐release. Tillage effects on soil penetration resistance were mainly confined to the plow‐layer (i.e. top 23 cm of soil). Generally, the cone index (CI) values for the top 23 cm of soil for all treatments were below 2MPa, except at midseason in 1991, a dry year. Penetration resistance differences due to tillage treatments were not caused by differences in soil water content. Soil bulk density was generally highest for NT at planting, however, the bulk density for CP and MP increased later in the season attaining values comparable to those of NT treatment. Chiseling and moldboard plowing reduced soil aggregate stability. Soil temperature at planting was lower for no‐tillage compared to the moldboard plowed system. Effects of tillage on pore size distribution, for the first two years of the experiment, were significant only at planting. Total porosity was higher for MP than CP and NT in both years. At midseason, 1991, total porosity was lower with MP than with NT and CP. The improved NT crop performance relative to the CP and MP treatments could also be related to better seed bed and root bed conditions following soybean (third year) than sod (first year) and better weed control. Initial crop yield advantages of MP over the conservation tillage systems (NT and CP) deteriorated over time, resulting in decreased soil aggregation, total porosity and soil productivity.     

Mechanical weeding effects on soil structure under field carrots (Daucus carota L.) and beans (Vicia faba L.)

The successful production of organic vegetables relies heavily on mechanical weeding, flame weeding and stale seedbeds. These operations involve repeated passes by tractors. Mechanical weeding also involves regular tillage. This combination of repeated tillage and compaction changes soil structure. We studied these structural changes in two fields of organic carrots and one field of beans in eastern Scotland. Structure was described by measuring soil strength with a vane shear tester and a cone penetrometer, by measuring bulk density and by visual assessment. Under beans, vane shear strength below the growing root zone was highly variable and in some areas was high enough to restrict root growth (>50 kPa). The carrots were grown in beds containing crop rows separated by bare soil. The bare soil was regularly weeded mechanically. The structure of this weeded soil in the top 10 cm layer of a loam eventually became disrupted and compacted enough to deter root growth (vane shear strength of 70 kPa). In addition the topsoil and subsoil in the wheel-tracks between the beds became very compact with little distinguishable structure. This compaction extended to the subsoil and persisted into the next cropping season (cone resistance >3 MPa at 35–50 cm depth). Reduced tillage by discing without ploughing was used to incorporate the straw used to protect the carrots overwinter and prepare the soil for the next crop. The resulting topsoil quality was poor leading to anaerobic growing conditions which restricted growth of the following crop and led to losses of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. The greatest threat to soil quality posed by mechanical weeding was subsoil compaction by tractor wheeling.     

Comparative effects of annual and permanent dairy pastures on soil physical properties in the Tsitsikamma region of South Africa

Abstract. The effects of grazed, annual ryegrass pasture (annually tilled with a rotary cultivator) and permanent kikuyu pasture were compared with that of undisturbed native vegetation at four sites in the Tsitsikamma region, South Africa. Soil organic carbon content, aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, air permeability, root length density and rooting depth were all less under ryegrass than kikuyu pasture. There was, however, no consistent effect of pasture-type on pore size distribution or penetrometer resistance. Differences in penetrometer resistance were most obvious in the 10–30 cm layer with subsurface compaction being evident at some sites under both types of pasture. This was attributed to the treading effects of grazing cattle plus formation of a compacted layer at the depth of tillage under ryegrass pastures. Subsoil tillage of a ryegrass pasture resulted in a substantial reduction in penetrometer resistance in the compacted 10–20 cm layer and increases in hydraulic conductivity, air permeability, root length density and rooting depth. We conclude that conversion from conventional to zero tillage is a potential way of improving the sustainability of annual pasture production and that the extent of subsoil compaction under both pasture types needs further investigation.     

Effects of tillage technologies and application of biopreparations on micromycetes in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of spring wheat

The population density and structure of complexes of soil microscopic fungi in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), plant damage by root rot and leaf diseases, and crop yield were determined in a stationary field experiment on a silty loamy soddy-podzolic soil (Albic Retisol (Loamic, Aric)) in dependence on the soil tillage technique: (a) moldboard plowing to 20–22 cm and (b) non-inversive tillage to 14–16 cm. The results were treated with the two-way ANOVA method. It was shown that the number of fungal propagules in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of plants in the variant with non-inversive tillage was significantly smaller than that in the variant with plowing. Minimization of the impact on the soil during five years led to insignificant changes in the structure of micromycete complexes in the rhizosphere of wheat. The damage of the plants with root rot and leaf diseases upon non-inversive tillage did not increase in comparison with that upon plowing. Wheat yield in the variant with non-inversive tillage was insignificantly lower than that in the variant with moldboard plowing. The application of biopreparations based on the Streptomyces hygroscopicus А4 and Pseudomonas aureofaciens BS 1393 resulted in a significant decrease of plant damage with leaf rust.     

Assessment of tillage erosion rates on steepland Oxisols in the humid tropics using granite rocks

Soil translocation by tillage may be an important factor in land degradation in the humid tropics. The objective of this study was to evaluate tillage-induced soil translocation on an Oxisol with 25% and 36% slopes in Claveria, Philippines for three tillage systems: contour moldboard plowing (CMP), moldboard plowing up and downslope (UMP), and contour ridge tillage (CRT). Small rocks 3–4 cm in “diameter” were used as soil movement detection units (SMDU). The SMDUs were placed at 10 cm intervals in a narrow 5-cm-deep trench near the upper boundary of each plot, the position of each rock recorded, and the trench backfilled. Five tillage operations used to produce one corn crop were performed during a one month period: two moldboard plowing operations for land preparation (except for CRT), one moldboard plowing for corn planting, and two inter-culture (inter-row cultivation) operations. After these operations, over 95% of the SMDU were recovered manually and their exact locations recorded. Mean annual soil flux for the 25% slope was 365 and 306 kg m⁻¹ y⁻¹ for UMP and CMP, respectively. For the 36% slope, comparable values were 481 and 478 kg m⁻¹ y⁻¹. Estimated tillage erosion rates for the 25% slope were 456 and 382 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ for UMP and CMP, respectively, and increased to 601 and 598 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, respectively, for the 36% slope. The mean displacement distance, mean annual soil flux, and mean annual tillage-induced soil loss for both slopes were reduced by approximately 70% using CRT compared to CMP and UMP.     

Improved root penetration of soil hard layers by a selected genotype

Abstract

Crops can be effectively grown on hardpan soils and water effectively used from deep in the profile if hard layers in soils can be penetrated or if they are broken up by tillage. Addition of gypsum to the soil or exploitation of genetic differences in root penetrability may help improve root penetration through hard layers with less need to depend on the energy requirements of deep tillage. To test this theory, a single‐grained Ap horizon of Norfolk loamy sand soil was compacted into soil columns to compare root penetrability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genotypes Essex and PI 416937 in the presence and absence of gypsum and at two soil compaction levels (columns with uniform compaction at 1.4 g cm^‐1 and columns with increasing compaction with depth from 1.4 to 1.75 g cm^‐1). Compaction treatments were imposed by constructing soil columns composed of 2.5‐cm‐deep, 7.5‐cm‐diameter cylindrical cores compacted to predetermined bulk densities (1.40,1.55,1.65,and 1.75 g cm^.3). Soil penetration resistances were measured on duplicate cores using a 3‐mm‐diameter cone‐tipped penetrometer. Columns were not watered during the study; soybean genotypes were grown in the columns until they died. Both genotypes lived one day longer in columns with lower bulk density and penetration resistance. Although root growth was more abundant for Essex than for PI 416937, root growth of PI 416937 was not decreased by compaction as much as it was for Essex. These results suggest that PI 416937 may possess the genetic capability to produce more root growth in soils with high penetration resistance. This study suggests that genetic improvement for root growth in soils with hard or acidic layers may potentially reduce our dependence on tillage. Gypsum did not affect root growth in this study.     

Soil carbon and nitrogen accumulation with long-term no-till versus moldboard plowing overestimated with tilled-zone sampling depths

Numerous investigators of tillage system impacts on soil organic carbon (OC) or total nitrogen (N) have limited their soil sampling to depths either at or just below the deepest tillage treatment in their experiments. This has resulted in an over-emphasis on OC and N changes in the near-surface zones and limited knowledge of crop and tillage system impacts below the maximum depth of soil disturbance by tillage implements. The objective of this study was to assess impacts of long-term (28 years) tillage and crop rotation on OC and N content and depth distribution together with bulk density and pH on a dark-colored Chalmers silty clay loam in Indiana. Soil samples were taken to 1 m depth in six depth increments from moldboard plow and no-till treatments in continuous corn and soybean–corn rotation. Rotation systems had little impact on the measured soil properties; OC content under continuous corn was not superior to the soybean–corn rotation in either no-till or moldboard plow systems. The increase in OC (on a mass per unit area basis) with no-till relative to moldboard plow averaged 23 t ha⁻¹ to a constant 30 cm sampling depth, but only 10 t ha⁻¹ to a constant 1.0 m sampling depth. Similarly, the increase in N with no-till was 1.9 t ha⁻¹ to a constant 30 cm sampling depth, but only 1.4 t ha⁻¹ to a constant 1.0 m sampling depth. Tillage treatments also had significant effects on soil bulk density and pH. Distribution of OC and N with soil depth differed dramatically under the different tillage systems. While no-till clearly resulted in more OC and N accumulation in the surface 15 cm than moldboard plow, the relative no-till advantage declined sharply with depth. Indeed, moldboard plowing resulted in substantially more OC and N, relative to no-till, in the 30–50 cm depth interval despite moldboard plowing consistently to less than a 25 cm depth. Our results suggest that conclusions about OC or N gains under long-term no-till are highly dependent on sampling depth and, therefore, tillage comparisons should be based on samples taken well beyond the deepest tillage depth.     

Effect of tillage systems and polyacrylamide on soil physical properties and wheat grain yield in arid regions differing in fine soil particles

A field study was performed for two consecutive seasons to evaluate the effect of polyacrylamide (PAM), tillage systems and particle size on soil physical properties and wheat grain yield. The PAM rates were 0, 10 and 20 kg ha^?1 while the tillage treatments included no-tillage (NT), moldboard plowing (CT1), and chisel plowing (CT2). Soil fine particles size of two locations were A (25.2 silt + clay) and B (38.5 silt + clay). Location B reported higher organic matter and total porosity while lower in bulk density. The CT1 and NT treatments denoted better soil organic matter percentage. The CT1 presented maximum infiltration rate compared to other tillage systems. No tillage showed better soil water contents while the minimum was in CT1 of location A and CT2 of location B. Increasing the PAM rate increased total porosity, infiltration rate and soil water content while decreased soil bulk density. Possibly, the presence of compacted layer in location A hindered the effect of PAM. At location B, the CT2 with PAM of 20 kg ha^?1 had the highest grain yield compared to other tillage systems. The PAM is beneficial for soil and water conservation and can be used in agriculture.     

不同耕整地方式对甘蔗耕层结构特性及产量的影响

为探讨不同耕整地方式对甘蔗地耕层土壤结构特性和产量的影响,以1.4 m和1.6 m两种种植行距为主处理,以深松35 cm+旋耕25 cm、深翻50 cm+旋耕25 cm、不深松(旋耕25 cm)3种耕整地作业方式为副处理,对甘蔗产量性状,土壤容重、紧实度、孔隙度、三相容积率、田间持水量、土壤贯入阻力和抗剪强度等土壤结构特性进行研究。结果表明:1.6 m行距处理甘蔗蔗茎产量显著低于1.4 m行距处理;1.6 m行距处理土壤紧实度显著小于1.4 m行距,容重显著高于1.4 m行距处理,1.6 m行距处理显著改善土壤贯入阻力和抗剪强度。与对照不深松(旋耕25 cm)相比,深松35 cm+旋耕25 cm及深翻50 cm+旋耕25 cm处理通过增加土壤耕作深度,显著改善了耕层土壤紧实度和耕层土壤容重,改善了耕层的整体疏松程度;深松作业通过提高耕层土壤总孔隙度,尤其增加了30~40 cm土层的毛管孔隙度,提高了深层土壤的保水能力,对甘蔗中后期株高伸长和茎径增粗产生显著的促进效应。深松35 cm+旋耕25 cm与深翻50 cm+旋耕25 cm均显著降低了耕层土壤贯入阻力,但对土壤抗剪强度的改善效果不显著;深松35 cm+旋耕25 cm的固相容积率最小,气相容积率最大,不深松(旋耕25 cm)耕作措施的固相容积率最大,气相容积率最小,3种耕作措施的液相容积率没有显著差异。深松35 cm+旋耕25 cm和深翻50 cm+旋耕25 cm均对土壤物理结构的改善具有积极作用,能显著提高甘蔗产量,在具有大马力拖拉机和高质量深松器的蔗区建议采用深松35 cm+旋耕25 cm的耕整地方式,在缺乏大马力拖拉机和高质量深松器的蔗区,可以采用铧式犁深翻50 cm+旋耕25 cm的耕整地方式来代替深松,以达到增厚耕层的目的。     

Aggregate breakdown during tillage in a Mediterranean loamy soil

Long-term tillage negatively affects soil aggregation, but little is known about the short-term effects of tillage. We investigated the effects of intensive tillage (moldboard plowing) and conservation tillage (chisel plowing) on aggregate breakage during tillage in a long-term study located in the semiarid Ebro river valley (NE Spain). The type of tillage resulted in different soil aggregate distributions. In the 0–5-cm and 5–10-cm soil layers, chisel plowing decreased dry mean weight diameter (DMWD) 29% and 35%, respectively, while moldboard plowing decreased DMWD by only 2% and 16%, respectively. The decrease in DMWD was mainly due to breaking of large aggregates ranging (2–8 mm) into small aggregates (<0.5 mm). Tillage method had no effect on water stability of 1–2 mm aggregates. The differences in DMWD demonstrate that the choice of the tillage implement can be a key factor in improving soil management and productivity. The surprising result that aggregate breakdown was greater with chisel than moldboard plowing needs further research to determine the mechanisms controlling aggregate breaking during tillage.     

Improvement of the physical fertility of a degraded Alfisol with planted and natural fallows under humid tropical conditions

Abstract. Topsoil (0–15 cm) bulk density, aggregate stability, soil dispersibility, water retention and infiltration were measured between 1989 and 1996 on an Alfisol under rehabilitation in southwestern Nigeria. The planted leguminous species were Pueraria phaseoloides, Senna siamea, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia leptocarpa and A. auriculiformis. Also, plots with natural fallow and maize/cassava intercropping were included. Level (minimum) and mound tillage with hoes was adopted for the cultivated areas under study after 4 and 6 year fallow periods. Under fallow, the soil bulk density decreased from1.56 to 1.11 t m73.The continuously cropped treatment (level tillage) had significantly higher bulk density than the fallowed subplots after 6 years. Mean soil penetrometer resistance ranged from 75 to 157 kPa for fallowed plots and from 192 to 295 kPa for the continuously cropped (level tillage) subplot. Surface soilwater contentswere similar for all the treatments during the soil strength measurements. Although soil aggregates were generally of low stability and not well formed, they were improved by fallowing.
Soil structural improvement by planted fallows was similar to that by natural fallow, but the trees were more promising for long-term fallow (>6 years) than the herbaceous P. phaseoloides. However, the improvement in soil structure after 4 or 6 year fallow could not be maintained in subsequent cropping. Furthermore, the significant improvement in soil bulk density caused by A. auriculiformis and natural fallow was more rapidly lost on the cultivated subplots compared with other fallow treatments. Thus, soil structure recovery under a fallow does not imply a sustained improvement when stress is applied to this soil. Post-fallow soil management options such as residue incorporation and tillage to ameliorate compaction or soil strength will be necessary to enhance the improvements by fallow species.     

Plant-water relations,crop growth and grain yield of spring barley in relation to tillage methods

The influence of tillage methods on plant water status was measured in spring barley on a sandy loam soil (Wighill series) in 1976. Three methods of tillage were used: direct drilling, tine cultivation to 12.5 cm depth, and moldboard plowing to 20 cm depth. Soil bulk density was higher in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm layers of the direct-drilled plots. Soil strength was also higher in the direct-drilled plots to 22.8 cm depth compared with plowed plots, and to 15.2 cm depth compared wiht tine-cultivated plots. Thje only significant effect on soil water content (measured to 90 cm depth) was between 80 and 114 days from planting when extraction from the 0–10 cm depth was greater in the direct-drilled plots compared with the plowed plots, and at 20 cm depth greater in plowed plots than in direct-drilled plots. There were no significant differences between tillage methods in leaf water potential, above-ground dry matter produced, and grain yield.     

耕作模式对黄土高原地区新增耕地土壤紧实度、养分含量及玉米产量的影响

[目的]探明不同耕作模式对以生土为构建材料的新增耕地的改良效应,为该类土地的高产高效利用提供科学依据。[方法]于2017年6—9月分别在免耕、深松、翻耕3种耕作处理模式下的玉米地开展定位监测试验,分析耕作模式对土壤紧实度、养分含量以及作物产量的影响。[结果] 0—20 cm土层紧实度在免耕模式下最低,分别较深松和翻耕低约37.49和38.48 kPa/cm~2,且各模式下0—20 cm土层均呈分层紧实的状态。玉米出苗期土壤紧实度最小,喇叭口期紧实度最高。0—40 cm土层有机质、全氮和有效磷含量在深松模式下均最高,分别为免耕的1.20,1.22,1.36倍,是翻耕的1.18,1.08,1.34倍。深松和翻耕模式下的速效钾含量相近,均为免耕的1.09倍。从出苗期到灌浆期,有机质和全氮含量增加,有效磷和速效钾含量减小。深松耕作模式下玉米产量最高,是免耕和翻耕条件下的1.30,1.19倍。[结论]深松耕作模式土壤紧实度适中,能有效增加土壤养分含量,提高作物产量,是新增耕地最理想的耕作改良方式。     

Characterizing compaction effects on soil properties and crop growth in southern Nigeria

A field experiment based on controlled traffic concept was conducted over three rainy seasons in a bimodal rainfall area during 1982–1983 with the objective of, firstly, determining the effects of traffic-induced compaction on soil physical properties, root growth and leaf nutrient concentration in maize (Zea mays L.) cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) and soya bean (Glycine max Merr.) and secondly, characterizing soil compaction by evaluating soil physical properties which closely correlated with crop yields. Main treatments of tillage methods compared discing (to 20 cm depth followed by harrowing) to a no-tillage system. Traffic treatments of 0, 2 and 4 passes of a 2-Mg roller were subplots in a split-plot design experiment. The roller simulated field traffic in the 1.5–2.5 Mg weight range and exerted an average contact pressure of 113 kPa per pass on soil. Traffic-induced compaction decreased water infiltration rate and increased soil dry density and penetrometer resistance. Vertical root growth of maize and cowpea was consequently reduced down to 21 cm depth and that of soya bean down to 14 cm depth. Lateral root distribution was also markedly reduced. In the third consecutive growing season, traffic-induced soil compaction reduced the leaf nutrient concentration of Mg in no-tillage and P, Ca, K and Mn in discing for maize; Mg in discing for cowpea; and Ca in discing for soya bean. Traffic-induced soil compaction reduced grain yields of maize, cowpea and soya bean in all three seasons under both no-till and disced treatments, but the severity of this compaction increased considerably in the third consecutive season and was particularly more marked on the disced plots than on the no-till plots. The water infiltration rate was found to be the most sensitive soil property in characterizing soil compaction on this Alfisol in relation to crop yield.     

Soil organic matter quality as influenced by tillage,lime, and phosphorus

In Eastern Canada, cereal yields are often restricted by soil acidity and low fertility. Continuous cereal production can also lead to soil structural degradation. The addition of lime and fertilizers and the adoption of conversation tillage practices are proposed solutions which may have a positive impact on soil quality. The objective of the present work was to assess the impact of 3 years of different tillage practices and P additions, and of a single lime addition on organic C and total N, microbial biomass C, and on N mineralization at the surface layer (0–7.5 cm) of a Courval sandy clay loam (Humic Gleysol). The easily mineralizable N, total amount of N mineralized in 22.1 weeks, the rate of N mineralization, and microbial biomass C were significantly greater in the minimum tillage than in the moldboard plow treatment. Chisel plow treatment showed intermediate values. The ratios of potentially mineralizable N and of easily mineralizable to total soil N were also significantly larger under minimum tillage and chisel plowing than under moldboard plowing. The lime and P treatments had no significant effect on the measured soil quality parameters. The total amount of N mineralized per unit of biomass C decreased as the tillage intensity increased, suggesting a decrease in the efficiency of the biomass in transforming organic N into potentially plant-available forms and thus a loss in soil organic matter quality. The results of this study indicate that conservation tillage practices such as rototilling and chisel plowing are efficient ways of maintaining soil organic matter quality when old pastures are brought back into cultivation.     

Effect of dairy slurry application on soil compaction and corn (Zea mays L.) yield in Southern Wisconsin

As stocking rates on Wisconsin dairy farms continue to increase, one possible nutrient management solution is to haul slurry to nearby grain farmer's fields. Although the nutrient and soil building benefits of manure are well known, many grain farmers are hesitant to apply manure on their fields due to potential soil compaction. Studies were initiated to evaluate the effects of tanker-applied slurry on soil compaction and corn (Zea mays L.) yield. An on-station trial was established to address the issues of compaction caused by manure tankers, repeated traffic associated with field headlands, and the possible ameliorating effect of manure itself on corn yield. In addition, 15 replicated on-farm trials were established to evaluate the impact of single pass manure applications on soil compaction and yield. These predominately fall applications were conducted when the host farmer felt that the soil would support tanker traffic. Due to its portability and instrument sensitivity, compactness was evaluated with a data-logging hand held penetrometer.Results from the on-station trial indicate that multiple passes did increase compactness above single-pass traffic and the check. The slurry itself did not attenuate the effect of traffic on soil compaction, nor on yield. Despite yield reductions estimated from in-track samples in both years of 6% (one-pass traffic) and 22% (six-pass traffic) in this study, whole plot corn yields were not reduced due to compaction. The on-farm trials indicated that manure application technique does affect compaction patterns; with broadcast application resulting in less area trafficked by the tanker than injection application, and therefore less area compacted. The narrower gauge truck tires used at some sites led to significantly higher penetrometer readings compared to the control, but this was not the case at sites with wider tractor tires. As in the on-station work, although compaction led to higher penetrometer readings, whole plot corn yields in compacted plots were not adversely affected compared to the control. These results suggest that, in the first year after slurry application, on predominantly prairie derived soils; well-timed applications of dairy slurry do not cause extensive soil compaction nor a reduction in corn yields. This study did not look at the potential residual effects that may positively (>soil organic matter) or negatively (residual soil compaction) impact subsequent crops.     

Effects of farmyard manure and tillage systems on soil physical properties and corn yield in central Iran

Tillage management and manure application are among the important factors affecting soil physical properties and crop yield. A 2-year field experiment was conducted on a silty clay loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haplargids). Effects of two tillage systems (moldboard plowing as conventional tillage (T₁) and disk harrowing as reduced tillage (T₂)) at three farmyard manure rates (zero (M₁), 30 (M₂), 60 (M₃) Mg ha⁻¹) were studied on the soil physical properties and corn (Zea mays L.) yield. The experiment was carried out in split block design with three replications. Organic matter (OM) content, bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_S), aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and dry biomass yield (DBY) were measured after harvesting in the second year. Manure application increased OM on both the row and inter-row tracks significantly. Manure application rate of 60 Mg ha⁻¹ increased MWD (0.33, 0.40 and 0.75 mm for M₁, M₂ and M₃, respectively) at the 0–5 cm soil layer, but the effect was not significant below 5 cm depth. Adding manure significantly decreased soil BD on the row tracks (1.39, 1.22 and 1.17 Mg m⁻³ for M₁, M₂ and M₃ treatments, respectively), but did not have any significant effect on the inter-row tracks. Hydraulic conductivity was improved by manure applications both on the row and inter-row positions. Manure treatments M₂ and M₃ increased DBY compared to the M₁ treatment. Although moldboard plowing increased the depth of root penetration significantly (43 cm for T₁ and 30 cm for T₂), the effect of tillage systems on yield and soil physical properties was not significant.     

Tillage effects on compaction, earthworms and other soil quality indicators in Hungary

The philosophy toward tillage throughout the last century in Hungary can be characterized as a fight against extreme climatic and economic situations. The ‘Hungarian reasonable tillage’ approach that was promoted by Cserháti at the end of the 1800s was aimed at reducing tillage without increasing the risk of crop failure in arable fields. Recently, new tillage trends and systems have been introduced because of the rise in energy prices and because of the need to cut production costs, conserve soil and water resources and protect the environment. In Hungarian relation, the rationalized plowing, loosening and mulching systems are counted to the new tillage solutions. There are new steps in the sowing methods too, such as seedbed preparation and plant in one pass, till and plant, mulch-till and plant and direct drilling, which are environment capable, throughout improving soil condition and avoiding the environment harms. The applicability of various soil conservation tillage methods is currently being tested in research projects and discussed in workshops throughout the country. In this paper, soil quality problems such as compaction, trends in soil tillage, and factors affecting soil quality or condition as well as improvement and maintenance are summarized. The data show that annual disking and plowing causes subsoil compaction at the depth of tillage within 3 years and that the compacted layer expanded both in surface and deeper layers after the 5th year. Soil quality deterioration by tillage-pans was improved by subsoiling and maintained by direct drilling and planting soil-loosening catch crops. Within a loam and a sandy loam soil there were close correlations between earthworm activity and soil quality. Earthworm numbers increased on undisturbed but noncompacted soils and soils that included stubble residues remaining on the surface, but did not increase on soils that were deteriorated by tillage-pans or left bare by the absence of mulch. Our goal for the new millennium, is to use only enough tillage to create and maintain harmony between soil conservation, soil quality and crop production.     

Cotton management in a compacted subsurface microirrigated coastal plain soil of the southeastern US

A loamy sand Acrisol (Aquic Hapludult) that had been microirrigated for 6 years became so severely compacted that it had root limiting values of soil cone index in the Ap horizon and a genetic hardpan below it. Deep and surface tillage systems were evaluated for their ability to alleviate compaction. Deep tillage included subsoiling or none. Both deep tillage treatments were also surface tilled by disking, chiseling, or not tilling. Subsoiling was located in row or between rows to avoid microirrigation tubes (laterals) that were buried under every other mid row or every row. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was planted in 0.96-m wide rows. Cotton yield was improved by irrigation from 485 to 1022 kg ha⁻¹ because both 2001 and 2002 were dry years. Tillage loosened the soil by an average of 0.5–1.3 MPa; but compacted zones remained outside tilled areas. Subsoiling improved yield by 131 kg ha⁻¹ when performed in row where laterals were placed in the mid rows; but subsoiling did not improve yield when it was performed in mid rows. For subsurface irrigation management in these soils, the treatment with laterals buried under every other mid row was able to accommodate in-row subsoiling which improved yield; and this treatment was just as productive as and had been shown to be less expensive to install than burying laterals under every row.