Soil quality response to tillage and crop residue removal under subarctic conditions

Little is known about the long-term effects of tillage and crop residue management on soil quality and organic matter conservation in subarctic regions. Therefore, we quantified wet aggregate stability, bulk density, pH, total organic C and N, inorganic N, microbial biomass C and N, microbial biomass C:N ratio, microbial quotient, and potential C and N mineralization for a tillage/crop residue management study in central Alaska. Soil from no-till (NT), disked once each spring (DO), and disked twice (DT, spring and fall) treatments was sampled to 20 cm depth in spring and fall of the 16th and 17th years of the study. Crop residues were either retained or removed after harvest each year. Reducing tillage intensity had greater impact on most soil properties than removing crop residues with the most notable effects in the top 10 cm. Bulk density was the only indicator that showed significant differences for the 10–20 cm depth, with values of 0.74 Mg m⁻³ in the surface 10 cm in NT compared to 0.86 in DT and 1.22 Mg m⁻³ in NT compared to 1.31 in DT for the 10–20 cm depth. Wet aggregate stability ranged from 10% in DT to 20% in NT. Use of NT or DO conserved soil organic matter more than DT. Compared to measurements made in the 3rd and 4th years of the study, the DT treatment lost almost 20% of the soil organic matter. Retaining crop residues on the soil conserved about 650 g m⁻² greater C than removing all residues each year. Soil microbial biomass C and mineralizable C were highest in NT, but the microbial C quotient, which averaged only 0.9%, was not affected by tillage or crop residue treatment. Microbial biomass C:N ratio was 11.3 in DT and 14.4 in the NT, indicating an increasing predominance of fungi with decreasing tillage intensity. Barley grain yield, which averaged 1980 kg ha⁻¹ over the entire 17 years of the study, was highest in DO and not significantly different between NT and DT, but weeds were a serious problem in NT. Reduced tillage can improve important soil quality indicators and conserve organic matter, but long-term NT may not be feasible in the subarctic because of weed problems and build up of surface organic matter.     

No-till effects on organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity and nutrient distribution in a Luvisol in the semi-arid subtropics

No-till (NT) system for grain cropping is increasingly being practised in Australia. While benefits of NT, accompanied by stubble retention, are almost universal for soil erosion control, effects on soil organic matter and other soil properties are inconsistent, especially in a semi-arid, subtropical environment. We examined the effects of tillage, stubble and fertilizer management on the distribution of organic matter and nutrients in the topsoil (0–30 cm) of a Luvisol in a semi-arid, subtropical environment in southern Queensland, Australia. Measurements were made at the end of 9 years of NT, reduced till (RT) and conventional till (CT) practices, in combination with stubble retention and fertilizer N (as urea) application strategies for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping.

In the top 30 cm depth, the mean amount of organic C increased slightly after 9 years, although it was similar under all tillage practices, while the amount of total N declined under CT and RT practices, but not under NT. In the 0–10 cm depth, the amounts of organic C and total N were significantly greater under NT than under RT or CT. No-till had 1.94 Mg ha⁻¹ (18%) more organic C and 0.20 Mg ha⁻¹ (21%) more total N than CT. In the 0–30 cm depth, soil under NT practice had 290 kg N ha⁻¹ more than that under the CT practice, most of it in the top 10 cm depth. Microbial biomass N was similar for all treatments. Under NT, there was a concentration gradient in organic C, total N and microbial biomass N, with concentrations decreasing from 0–2.5 to 5–10 cm depths.

Soil pH was not affected by tillage or stubble treatments in the 0–10 cm depth, but decreased significantly from 7.5 to 7.2 with N fertilizer application. Exchangeable Mg and Na concentration, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable Na percentage in the 0–10 cm depth were greater under CT than under RT and NT, while exchangeable K and bicarbonate-extractable P concentrations were greater under NT than under CT.

Therefore, NT and RT practices resulted in significant changes in soil organic C and N and exchangeable cations in the topsoil of a Luvisol, when compared with CT. The greater organic matter accumulation close to the soil surface and solute movement in these soils under NT practice would be beneficial to soil chemical and physical status and crop production in the long-term, whereas the concentration of nutrients such as P and K in surface layers may reduce their availability to crops.     

Depth distribution of soil organic C and N after long-term soybean cropping in Texas

Crop management practices have potential to enhance subsoil C and N sequestration in the southern U.S., but effects may vary with tillage regime and cropping sequence. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of tillage and soybean cropping sequence on the depth distribution of soil organic C (SOC), dissolved organic C (DOC), and total N after 20 years of treatment imposition for a silty clay loam soil in central Texas. A continuous soybean monoculture, a wheat–soybean doublecrop, and a sorghum–wheat–soybean rotation were established under both conventional (CT) and no tillage (NT). Soil was sampled after soybean harvest and sectioned into 0–5, 5–15, 15–30, 30–55, 55–80, and 80–105 cm depth intervals. Both tillage and cropping intensity influenced C and N dynamics in surface and subsurface soils. No tillage increased SOC, DOC, and total N compared to CT to a 30 cm depth for continuous soybean, but to 55 cm depths for the more intensive sorghum–wheat–soybean rotation and wheat–soybean doublecrop. Averaged from 0 to 105 cm, NT increased SOC, DOC, and total N by 32, 22, and 34%, respectively, compared to CT. Intensive cropping increased SOC and total N at depths to 55 cm compared to continuous soybean, regardless of tillage regime. Continuous soybean had significantly lower SOC (5.3 g kg⁻¹) than sorghum–wheat–soybean (6.4 g kg⁻¹) and wheat–soybean (6.1 g kg⁻¹), and 19% lower total N than other cropping sequences. Dissolved organic C was also significantly higher for sorghum–wheat–soybean (139 mg C kg⁻¹) than wheat–soybean (92 mg C kg⁻¹) and continuous soybean (100 mg C kg⁻¹). The depth distribution of SOC, DOC, and total N indicated treatment effects below the maximum tillage depth (25 cm), suggesting that roots, or translocation of dissolved organic matter from surface soils, contributed to higher soil organic matter levels under NT than CT in subsurface soils. High-intensity cropping sequences, coupled with NT, resulted in the highest soil organic matter levels, demonstrating potential for C and N sequestration for subsurface soils in the southern U.S.     

In situ and potential CO2 evolution from a Fluventic Ustochrept in southcentral Texas as affected by tillage and cropping intensity

Quality of agricultural soils is largely a function of soil organic matter. Tillage and crop management impact soil organic matter dynamics by modification of the soil environment and quantity and quality of C input. We investigated changes in pools and fluxes of soil organic C (SOC) during the ninth and tenth year of cropping with various intensities under conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT). Soil organic C to a depth of 0.2 m increased with cropping intensity as a result of greater C input and was 10% to 30% greater under NT than under CT. Sequestration of crop-derived C input into SOC was 22±2% under NT and 9±4% under CT (mean of cropping intensities ± standard deviation of cropping systems). Greater sequestration of SOC under NT was due to a lower rate of in situ soil CO₂ evolution than under CT (0.22±0.03 vs. 0.27±0.06 g CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC yr⁻¹). Despite a similar labile pool of SOC under NT than under CT (1.1±0.1 vs. 1.0±0.1 g mineralizable C kg⁻¹ SOC d⁻¹), the ratio of in situ to potential CO₂ evolution was less under NT (0.56±0.03) than under CT (0.73±0.08), suggesting strong environmental controls on SOC turnover, such as temperature, moisture, and residue placement. Both increased C sequestration and a greater labile SOC pool were achieved in this low-SOC soil using NT and high-intensity cropping.     

Long-term effects of tillage and fallow-frequency on soil quality attributes in a clay soil in semiarid southwestern saskatchewan

Reduced tillage management is being adopted at an accelerated rate on the Canadian prairies. This may influence soil quality and productivity. A study conducted on a clay soil (Udic Haplustert) in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of fallow frequency [fallow-wheat (F-W) vs. continuous wheat (Cont W)] and tillage [no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional (CT) or minimum tillage (MT)] on yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was sampled after 3, 7 and 11 years to assess changes in selected soil quality attributes. Tillage had no effect on amount of crop residues returned to the land, but the tilled systems had significantly (P<0.05) lower total organic C and N in the 0–7.5 cm soil depth, though not in the 7.5–15 cm depth. Further, these differences were observed after only 3 years and persisted for the entire 11 years of the study. For example, in the 0–7.5 cm depth, organic C in F-W (MT) after 3 years was 10 480 kg ha⁻¹ and in F-W (NT) 13 380 kg ha⁻¹, while in Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT) corresponding values were 11 310 and 13 400 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. After 11 years, values for F-W (MT) and F-W (NT) were 11 440 and 14 960 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, and for Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT), 12 970 and 16 140 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. In contrast to total organic matter, two of the more labile soil quality attributes [i.e., C mineralization (C_min) and N mineralization (N_min)] did not respond to fallow frequency until after 7 years and only in the 0–7.5 cm depth. Microbial biomass (MB) and the ratio of C_min to MB [specific respiratory activity (SRA)], two attributes also regarded as labile, were not influenced by the treatments even after 11 years. After 11 years, only C_min and N_min among the labile soil quality attributes responded to the treatments. Surprisingly, the labile attributes were no more sensitive to the treatments than was total organic C or N. More research is required to determine why responses in this soil differed from those reported elsewhere.     

Effects of tillage systems on energy and carbon balance in north-eastern Italy

An energy analysis of three cropping systems with different intensities of soil tillage (conventional tillage, CT; ridge tillage, RT; no tillage, NT) was done in a loamy-silt soil (fulvi-calcaric Cambisol) at Legnaro, NE Italy (45°21′N, 11°58′E, 8 m above sea-level (a.s.l.), average rainfall 822 mm, average temperature 11.7°C). This and measurements of the evolution of the organic matter content in the soil also allowed the consequences to be evaluated in terms of CO₂ emissions.

The weighted average energy input per hectare was directly proportional to tillage intensity (CT > RT > NT). Compared with CT, total energy savings per hectare were 10% with RT and 32% with NT. Average energy costs per unit production were fairly similar (between 4.5 and 5 MJ kg⁻¹), with differences of 11%. The energy outputs per unit area were highest in CT for all crops, and lowest in NT. The RT outputs were on average more similar to CT (−12%). The output/input ratio tended to increase when soil tillage operations were reduced, and was 4.09, 4.18 and 4.57 for CT, RT and NT, respectively. As a consequence of fewer mechanical operations and a greater working capacity of the machines, there was lower fuel consumption and a consistently higher organic matter content in the soil with the conservation tillage methods.

These two effects result in less CO₂ emission into the atmosphere (at 0°C and pressure of 101.3–103 kPa) with respect to CT, of 1190 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in RT and 1553 m³ ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in NT. However, the effect owing to carbon sequestration as organic matter will decline to zero over a period of years.     

Soil organic carbon and C abundance as related to tillage, crop residue, and nitrogen fertilization under continuous corn management in Minnesota

Long-term field experiments are among the best means to predict soil management impacts on soil carbon storage. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and natural abundance ¹³C (δ¹³C) were sensitive to tillage, stover harvest, and nitrogen (N) management during 13 years of continuous corn (Zea mays L.), grown on a Haplic Chernozem soil in Minnesota. Contents of SOC in the 0–15 cm layer in the annually-tilled [moldboard (MB) and chisel (CH)] plots decreased slightly with years of corn after a low input mixture of alfalfa (Medicago sativum L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) for pasture; stover harvest had no effect. Storage of SOC in no-till (NT) plots with stover harvested remained nearly unchanged at 55 Mg ha⁻¹ with time, while that with stover returned increased about 14%. The measured δ¹³C increased steadily with years of corn cropping in all treatments; the NT with stover return had the highest increase. The N fertilization effects on SOC and δ¹³C were most evident when stover was returned to NT plots. In the 15–30 cm depth, SOC storage decreased and δ¹³C values increased with years of corn cropping under NT, especially when stover was harvested. There was no consistent temporal trend in SOC storage and δ¹³C values in the 15–30 cm depth when plots received annual MB or CH tillage. The amount of available corn residue that was retained in SOC storage was influenced by all three management factors. Corn-derived SOC in the 0–15 cm and the 15–30 cm layers of the NT system combined was largest with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ and no stover harvest. The MB and CH tillage systems did not influence soil storage of corn-derived SOC in either the 0–15 or 15–30 cm layers. The corn-derived SOC as a fraction of SOC after 13 years fell into three ranges: 0.05 for the NT with stover harvested, 0.15 for the NT with no stover harvest, and 0.09–0.10 for treatments with annual tillage; N rate had no effect on this fraction. Corn-derived SOC expressed as a fraction of C returned was positively biased when C returned in the roots was estimated from recovery of root biomass. The half-life for decomposition of the original or relic SOC was longer when stover was returned, shortened when stover was harvested and N applied, and sharply lengthened when stover was not harvested and N was partially mixed with the stover. Separating SOC storage into relic and current crop sources has significantly improved our understanding of the main and interacting effects of tillage, crop residue, and N fertilization for managing SOC accumulation in soil.     

Soil organic carbon accumulation and carbon costs related to tillage, cropping systems and nitrogen fertilization in a subtropical Acrisol

Conservation management systems can improve soil organic matter stocks and contribute to atmospheric C mitigation. This study was carried out in a 18-year long-term experiment conducted on a subtropical Acrisol in Southern Brazil to assess the potential of tillage systems [conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT)], cropping systems [oat/maize (O/M), vetch/maize (V/M) and oat + vetch/maize + cowpea (OV/MC)] and N fertilization [0 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (0 N) and 180 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (180 N)] for mitigating atmospheric C. For that, the soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and the C equivalent (CE) costs of the investigated management systems were taken into account in comparison to the CT O/M 0 N used as reference system. No-till is known to produce a less oxidative environment than CT and resulted in SOC accumulation, mainly in the 0–5 cm soil layer, at rates related to the addition of crop residues, which were increased by legume cover crops and N fertilization. Considering the reference treatment, the SOC accumulation rates in the 0–20 cm layer varied from 0.09 to 0.34 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in CT and from 0.19 to 0.65 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in NT. However, the SOC accumulation rates peaked during the first years (5th to 9th) after the adoption of the management practices and decreased exponentially over time, indicating that conservation soil management was a short-term strategy for atmospheric C mitigation. On the other hand, when the CE costs of tillage operations were taken into account, the benefits of NT to C mitigation compared to CT were enhanced. When CE costs related to N-based fertilizers were taken into account, the increases in SOC accumulation due to N did not necessarily improve atmospheric C mitigation, although this does not diminish the agricultural and economic importance of inorganic N fertilization.     

Soil organic carbon and fractions of a Rhodic Ferralsol under the influence of tillage and crop rotation systems in southern Brazil

Soil organic matter (SOM) and its different pools have key importance in optimizing crop production, minimizing negative environmental impacts, and thus improving soil quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil C and N contents in bulk soil and in different SOM pools (light and heavy fractions) of a clayey Rhodic Ferralsol after 13 years of different tillage and crop rotations in Passo Fundo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from no-tillage (no soil disturbance except for sowing; NT) and conventional tillage (disc plough followed by light disc harrowings; CT) applied to wheat/soybean (W/S) and wheat/soybean–vetch/maize (W/S–V/M) rotations. As reference, soil was sampled from a non-cultivated area adjacent to the field experiment. The greatest soil C and N contents were found in non-cultivated soils in the 0–5 cm depth (45 g C kg⁻¹ soil and 3.6 g N kg⁻¹ soil). Crop cultivation led to a decrease in SOM content which was higher for CT soils (approx. 60% decrease in C and N contents) than NT soils (approx. 43% decrease in C and N contents) at 0–5 cm. Tillage had the greatest impact on soil C and N storage. Soils under NT did not contain higher C and N storage than CT soils below 5 cm depth. Significantly, higher amounts of organic carbon of FLF in CT (0.5–0.7 g C kg⁻¹ soil) than in NT soils (0.2 g C kg⁻¹ soil) at 10–20 cm depth were also observed and the differences in C and N storage between CT and NT soils in the 0–30 cm layer were not significant. Silt and clay fractions contained the largest amount of organic carbon (60–95% of total organic carbon), and free light fraction was the most sensitive pool of organic carbon to detect changes in SOM due to soil tillage and crop rotations.     

Water infiltration and soil structure related to organic matter and its stratification with depth

Soil organic matter is a key attribute of soil quality that impacts soil aggregation and water infiltration. Two soils (Typic Kanhapludults), one under long-term management of conventional tillage (CT) and one under long-term management of no tillage (NT), were sampled to a depth of 12 cm. Soil cores (15 cm diameter) were either left intact or sieved and repacked to differentiate between short-term (sieving) and long-term (tillage management) effects of soil disturbance on water infiltration, penetration resistance, soil bulk density, macroaggregate stability, and soil organic carbon (SOC). Mean weekly water infiltration was not different between sieved and intact cores from long-term CT (22 cm h⁻¹), but was significantly greater in intact (72 cm h⁻¹) than in sieved (28 cm h⁻¹) soil from long-term NT. The stratification ratio of SOC (i.e., of 0–3 cm depth divided by that of 6–12 cm depth) was predictive of water infiltration rate, irrespective of short- or long-term history of disturbance. Although tillage is used to increase soil porosity, it is a short-term solution that has negative consequences on surface soil structural stability, surface residue accumulation, and surface-SOC, which are critical features that control water infiltration and subsequent water transmission and storage in soil. The stratification ratio of SOC could be used as a simple diagnostic tool to identify land management strategies that improve soil water properties (e.g., infiltration, water-holding capacity, and plant-available water).     

Effects of tillage and nitrogen management on soil chemical and physical properties after 23 years of continuous sorghum

Long-term tillage and nitrogen (N) management practices can have a profound impact on soil properties and nutrient availability. A great deal of research evaluating tillage and N applications on soil chemical properties has been conducted with continuous corn (Zea Mays L.) throughout the Midwest, but not on continuous grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). The objective of this experiment was to examine the long-term effects of tillage and nitrogen applications on soil physical and chemical properties at different depths after 23 years of continuous sorghum under no-till (NT) and conventional till (CT) (fall chisel-field cultivation prior to planting) systems. Ammonium nitrate (AN), urea, and a slow release form of urea were surface broadcast at rates of 34, 67, and 135 kg N ha⁻¹. Soil samples were taken to a depth of 15 cm and separated into 2.5 cm increments. As a result of lime applied to the soil surface, soil pH in the NT and CT plots decreased with depth, ranging from 6.9 to 5.7 in the NT plots and from 6.5 to 5.9 in the CT plots. Bray-1 extractable P and NH₄OAc extractable K was 20 and 49 mg kg⁻¹ higher, respectively, in the surface 2.5 cm of NT compared to CT. Extractable Ca was not greatly influenced by tillage but extractable Mg was higher for CT compared to NT below 2.5 cm. Organic carbon (OC) under NT was significantly higher in the surface 7.5 cm of soil compared to CT. Averaged across N rates, NT had 2.7 Mg ha⁻¹ more C than CT in the surface 7.5 cm of soil. Bulk density (Δ_b) of the CT was lower at 1.07 g cm⁻³ while Δ_b of NT plots was 1.13 g cm⁻³. This study demonstrated the effect tillage has on the distribution and concentration of certain chemical soil properties.     

耕作方式对农田土壤理化性质、微生物学特性及小麦营养品质的影响

【[目的 ]】耕作措施对土壤健康和作物营养品质提升具有关键作用,明确不同耕作方式对土壤理化性质、微生物学特性及小麦营养品质的影响,为集约化农田可持续管理提供理论依据。【[方法 ]】田间试验自2012年起在山东德州进行,供试土壤为潮土,种植制度为小麦–玉米轮作。设置4种耕作模式处理：传统耕作、旋耕、休耕和免耕。2020年,采集0—20 cm土层土样分析土壤物理、化学性质和细菌群落结构,采集小麦籽粒样品分析其营养品质。【[结果 ]】与传统耕作相比,免耕、休耕和旋耕处理显著提高了土壤含水量、铵态氮、硝态氮、有机质、全氮及有效磷含量,休耕还显著提高了土壤容重,降低了土壤孔隙度。免耕、休耕和旋耕处理显著提高土壤微生物量碳、氮含量以及土壤细菌群落多样性指数,休耕及免耕处理提高土壤厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)的相对丰度,降低放线菌门(Actinobacteria)的相对丰度。从营养品质变化来看,休耕显著提高小麦籽粒蛋白质、淀粉、微量元素的含量,旋耕和免耕显著增加小麦籽粒蛋白质含量,除天冬氨酸外,其他16种氨基酸组分变化趋势与氨基酸总量变化基本一致。Pe...     

Soil carbon dioxide fluxes following tillage in semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystems

In semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystems, low and erratic annual rainfall together with the widespread use of mouldboard ploughing (conventional tillage, CT), as the main traditional tillage practice, has led to a depletion of soil organic matter (SOM) and with increases in CO₂ emissions from soil to the atmosphere. In this study, we evaluated the viability of conservation tillage: RT, reduced tillage (chisel and cultivator ploughing) and, especially, NT (no-tillage) to reduce short-term (from 0 to 48 h after a tillage operation) and mid-term (from 0 h to several days since tillage operation) tillage-induced CO₂ emissions. The study was conducted in three long-term tillage experiments located at different sites of the Ebro river valley (NE Spain) across a precipitation gradient. Soils were classified as: Fluventic Xerocrept, Typic Xerofluvent and Xerollic Calciorthid. Soil temperature and water content were also measured in order to determine their influence on tillage-induced CO₂ fluxes. The majority of the CO₂ flux measured immediately after tillage ranged from 0.17 to 6 g CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ and was from 3 to 15 times greater than the flux before tillage operations, except in NT where soil CO₂ flux was low and steady during the whole study period. Mid-term CO₂ emission showed a different trend depending on the time of the year in which tillage was implemented. Microclimatic soil conditions (soil temperature and water content) had little impact on soil CO₂ emission following tillage. In the semiarid Mediterranean agroecosystems studied, NT had low short-term soil CO₂ efflux compared with other soil tillage systems (e.g., conventional and reduced tillage) and therefore can be recommended to better manage C in soil.     

Tillage effects on microbial biomass and nutrient distribution in soils under rain-fed corn production in central-western Mexico

Quantifying how tillage systems affect soil microbial biomass and nutrient cycling by manipulating crop residue placement is important for understanding how production systems can be managed to sustain long-term soil productivity. Our objective was to characterize soil microbial biomass, potential N mineralization and nutrient distribution in soils (Vertisols, Andisols, and Alfisols) under rain-fed corn (Zea mays L.) production from four mid-term (6 years) tillage experiments located in central-western, Mexico. Treatments were three tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no tillage (NT). Soil was collected at four locations (Casas Blancas, Morelia, Apatzingán and Tepatitlán) before corn planting, at depths of 0–50, 50–100 and 100–150 mm. Conservation tillage treatments (MT and NT) significantly increased crop residue accumulation on the soil surface. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were highest in the surface layer of NT and decreased with depth. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, total N and extractable P of plowed soil were generally more evenly distributed throughout the 0–150 mm depth. Potential N mineralization was closely associated with organic C and microbial biomass. Higher levels of soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were directly related to surface accumulation of crop residues promoted by conservation tillage management. Quality and productivity of soils could be maintained or improved with the use of conservation tillage.     

Response of soil physical properties to tillage and residue management on two soils in a cool temperate environment

In view of their potential benefits, reduced or no tillage (NT) systems are being advocated worldwide. Concerns about impairment of some soil conditions, however, cast doubt on their unqualified acceptance. We evaluated the effects of 6 years of tillage and residue management on bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregation and infiltration rate of a Black Chernozem at Innisfail (loam, 65 g kg⁻¹ organic matter, Udic Boroll) and a Gray Luvisol at Rimbey (loam, 31 g kg⁻¹ organic matter, Boralf) cropped to monoculture spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in a cool temperate climate in Alberta, Canada. Tillage systems were no tillage and tillage with rototilling (T), and two residue levels were straw removed (−S) and straw retained (+S). Bulk density (BD) of the 0–7.5 and 7.5–15 cm depths was significantly greater under NT (1.13–1.58 Mg m⁻³) than under T (0.99–1.41 Mg m⁻³) in both soils, irrespective of residue management. In both soils, penetration resistance (PR) was greater under NT than under T to 15 cm depth. Residue retention significantly reduced PR of the 0–10 cm soil in NT, but not in T. In the 0–5 cm depth of the Black Chernozem, the >2 mm fraction of dry aggregates was highest under NT + S (72%), and lowest under T − S (50%). The wind-erodible fraction (dry aggregates <1 mm size) was smallest (18%) under NT + S and largest (39%) under T − S. Soil aggregation benefited more from NT than from residue retention. Proportion of wind-erodible aggregates was generally greater in the Gray Luvisol than in the Black Chernozem. In the Black Chernozem, steady-state infiltration rate (IR) was significantly lower (33%) under NT than under T. Residue retention improved IR in both NT and T. In the Gray Luvisol, IR was not significantly affected by tillage and residue management. Despite firmer soil, NT and residue retention are recommended to improve aggregation in the cool temperate region of Western Canada.     

Tillage, nitrogen and crop residue effects on crop yield, nutrient uptake, soil quality, and greenhouse gas emissions

Management practices that simultaneously improve soil properties and yield are crucial to sustain high crop production and minimize detrimental impact on the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of tillage and crop residue management on crop yield, N uptake and C removal in crop, soil organic C and N, inorganic N and aggregation, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions on a Gray Luvisol (Boralf) soil near Star City, Saskatchewan, Canada. The 4-year (1998–2001) field experiment was conducted with two tillage systems: no tillage (NT), and conventional tillage (CT); two levels of straw: straw retained (S), and straw removed (NS); and four rates of fertilizer N: 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha⁻¹, except no N to pea phase of the rotation. The plots were seeded to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in 1998, pea (Pisum sativum L.) in 1999, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2000 and canola (Brassica napus L.) in 2001. Tillage and straw treatments generally had no effect on crop yield during the first three years. But in 2001, NT produced 55, 32, and 20% greater canola seed, straw and chaff than CT, respectively, whereas straw retention increased seed and straw yield by 33 and 19% compared to straw removal. Seed, straw and chaff yield of canola increased with N rate up to 40 kg N ha⁻¹, and root mass (0–15 cm depth) with N rate to 80 kg N ha⁻¹. Amount of N uptake and C removed in wheat and canola generally increased with N rate, but tillage and straw management had no consistent effect. After four crop seasons, total organic C (TOC) and N (TN), light fraction organic matter (LFOM), C (LFC), and N (LFN) were generally greater with S than NS treatments. Tillage did not affect TOC and TN in soil, but LFOM, LFC, and LFN were greater or tended to be greater under NT than CT. There was no effect of tillage, straw and N fertilization on NH₄-N in soil, but CT and S tended to have higher NO₃-N concentration in 0–15 cm soil than NT and NS, respectively. Concentration of NO₃-N increased substantially with N rate ≥80 kg ha⁻¹. The NT + S treatment had the lowest proportion (34%) of wind-erodible (<0.83 mm diameter) aggregates and greatest proportion (37%) of larger (>12.7 mm) dry aggregates, compared to highest (50%) and lowest (18%) proportion of corresponding aggregates in CT + NS, indicating less potential for soil erosion when tillage was omitted and crop residues were retained. Amount of N lost as N₂O was higher from N-fertilized than from zero-N plots, and it was substantially higher from N-applied CT plots than from N-applied NT plots. Retaining crop residues along with no-tillage improved soil properties and may also be better for the environment.     

Tillage, crop residue and N fertilizer effects on crop yield, nutrient uptake, soil quality and nitrous oxide gas emissions in a second 4-yr rotation cycle

An 8-yr (1998–2005) field experiment was conducted on a Gray Luvisol (Boralf) soil near Star City, Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of tillage (no-tillage – NT and conventional tillage – CT), straw management (straw retained – R and straw not retained – NR) and N fertilizer (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha⁻¹, except no N to pea (Pisum sativum L.) phase of the rotation) on seed and straw yield, mass of N and C in crop, organic C and N, inorganic N and aggregation in soil, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions for a second 4-yr rotation cycle (2002–2005). The plots were seeded to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in 2002, pea in 2003, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2004 and canola (Brassica napus L.) in 2005. Seed, straw and chaff yield, root mass, and mass of N and C in crop increased with increasing N rate for barley in 2002, wheat in 2004 and canola in 2005. No-till produced greater seed (by 51%), straw (23%) and chaff (13%) yield of barley than CT in 2002, but seed yield for wheat in 2004, and seed and straw yield for canola in 2005 were greater under CT than NT. Straw retention increased seed (by 62%), straw (by 43%) and chaff (by 12%) yield, and root mass (by 11%) compared to straw removal for barley in 2002, wheat in 2004, and seed and straw yield for pea in 2003. No-till resulted in greater mass of N in seed, and mass of C in seed, straw, chaff and root than CT for barley in 2002, but mass of N and C were greater under CT than NT for wheat in 2004 and for canola in 2005 in many cases. Straw retention had greater mass of N and C in seed, straw, chaff and root in most cases compared to straw removal for barley in 2002, pea in 2003 and wheat in 2004. Soil moisture content in spring was higher under NT than CT and with R than NR in the 0–15 cm depth, with the highest moisture content in the NT + R treatment in many cases. After eight crop seasons, tillage and straw management had no effect on total organic C (TOC) and N (TON) in the 0–15 cm soil, but light fraction organic C (LFOC) and N (LFON), respectively, were greater by 1.275 Mg C ha⁻¹ and 0.031 Mg N ha⁻¹ with R than NR, and also greater by 0.563 Mg C ha⁻¹ and 0.044 Mg N ha⁻¹ under NT than CT. There was no effect of tillage, straw and N fertilization on the NH₄-N in soil in most cases, but R treatment had higher NO₃-N concentration in the 0–15 cm soil than NR. The NO₃-N concentration in the 0–15, 15–30 and 30–60 cm soil layers increased (though small) with increasing N rate. The R treatment had 6.7% lower proportion of fine (<0.83 mm diameter) and 8.6% greater proportion of large (>38.0 mm) dry aggregates, and 4.5 mm larger mean weight diameter (MWD) compared to NR treatment. This suggests a lower potential for soil erosion when crop residues are retained. There was no beneficial effect of elimination of tillage on soil aggregation. The amount of N lost as N₂O was higher from N-fertilized (580 g N ha⁻¹) than from zero-N (155 g N ha⁻¹) plots, and also higher in CT (398 g N ha⁻¹) than NT (340 g N ha⁻¹) in some cases. In conclusion, retaining crop residues along with no-tillage improved some soil properties and may also be better for the environment and the sustainability of high crop production. Nitrogen fertilization improved crop production and some soil quality attributes, but also increased the potential for NO₃-N leaching and N₂O-N emissions, especially when applied in excess of crop requirements.     

Long-term tillage and crop rotation effects on microbial biomass and C and N mineralization in a Brazilian Oxisol

Crop rotation and tillage impact microbial C dynamics, which are important for sequestering C to offset global climate change and to promote sustainable crop production. Little information is available for these processes in tropical/subtropical agroecosystems, which cover vast areas of terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, a study of crop rotation in combination with no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems was conducted on an Oxisol (Typic Haplorthox) in an experiment established in 1976 at Londrina, Brazil. Soil samples were taken at 0–50, 50–100 and 100–200 mm depths in August 1997 and 1998 and evaluated for microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and mineralizable C and N. There were few differences due to crop rotation, however there were significant differences due to tillage. No tillage systems increased total C by 45%, microbial biomass by 83% and MBC:total C ratio by 23% at 0–50 mm depth over CT. C and N mineralization increased 74% with NT compared to CT systems for the 0–200 mm depth. Under NT, the metabolic quotient (CO₂ evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 32% averaged across soil depths, which suggests CT produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NT systems. These soil microbial properties were shown to be sensitive indicators of long-term tillage management under tropical conditions.     

Depth distribution and bioavailability of pollutants in long-term differently tilled soils

Pollutants can be introduced to soil through the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers and pesticides and through atmospheric depositions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of long-term (9–17 years) tillage systems on the behavior of pollutants in soils. Bioavailability and enrichment of heavy metals, arsenic, and organics, i.e. polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) and a chlorinated phenol (2,4-DCP) were measured in a Eutric Cambisol and a Luvisol under conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT). Soil samples were collected from 0 to 3, 3 to 10, and 10 to 25 cm depths.

The upper layer of NT soils was enriched in pollutants, but concentrations decreased with increasing soil depth. Atmospheric deposition of pollutants and input via organic fertilizers was noticeable in soils under long-term NT. Total amount of zinc (59 mg kg⁻¹) was significantly enriched in the 0–3 cm depth of the Luvisol under NT and this was attributed to higher sorption capacity for heavy metal input via liquid manure. In the Eutric Cambisol, NT resulted in significant increase of cadmium extracted by aqua regia in the arable layer of 0–25 cm. As a result of higher soil organic C, long-term accumulation of PCB’s in NT soils was more pronounced than in plowed soils. In plowed soils the mixing effect resulted in homogeneous distribution of pollutants within a soil depth of 0–25 cm.

The enrichment of organic C in RT and NT soils emphasizes the role of soils as a sink for pollutants, buffering the contaminants against leaching and transfer into crops.     

Influence of tillage systems on biological properties of a Typic Argiudoll soil under continuous maize in central Argentina

Farmers are increasingly using zero tillage in Central Argentina to replace other tillage systems. Intensive tillage decreases soil organic matter content and causes physical degradation. The objective of this work was to evaluate changes in some soil biological properties induced by different tillage systems. A 6 year experiment in which continuous maize (Zea mays L.) was grown using three tillage systems (conventional tillage, reduced tillage and zero tillage) was carried out at Córdoba Province, Argentina, on a Typic Argiudoll. Variations in total organic C content, microbial biomass C, metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and the proportion of the organic C present in the microbial biomass were evaluated at two sampling depths (0–5 and 5–15 cm). Additional samples from a nearby site (undisturbed grassland) were also taken and considered as a control. Concentrations of soil organic C and microbial biomass C were higher under zero tillage as compared with conventional tillage, at the 0–5 cm soil depth. Differences were not evident among tillage systems at the 5–15 cm soil depth. An analysis of the microbial biomass C content, in relation to the organic C, revealed higher values at the 0–5 cm soil depth only for those systems which provoke less disturbance of the soil (i.e. reduced tillage and zero tillage). Significantly greater amounts of CO₂---C were released from zero tillage and reduced tillage soils than from conventionally tilled soils. This release was positively correlated with microbial biomass C. qCO₂ values were not significantly different between tillage systems. Zero tillage proved to be more efficient in the conservation of organic C and microbial biomass C. The tillage system's impact on respiration was due to its effect on the microbial biomass.