Quantifying tillage translocation and deposition rates due to moldboard plowing in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest, USA

Most of the erosion research in the Palouse region of eastern Washington State, USA has focused on quantifying the rates and patterns of water erosion for purposes of conservation planing. Tillage translocation, however, has largely been overlooked as a significant geomorphic process on Palouse hillslopes. Tillage translocation and tillage deposition together have resulted in severe soil degradation in many steep croplands of the Palouse region. Few controlled experiments have heretofore been conducted to model these important geomorphic processes on Palouse hillslopes. The overarching purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to model tillage translocation and deposition due to moldboard plowing in the Palouse region. Soil movement by moldboard plowing was measured using 480-steel flat washers. Washers were buried in silt loam soils on convex–convex shoulder, linear-convex backslope, and linear-concave footslope landform components, and then displaced from their original burial locations by a moldboard plow pulled by a wheel tractor traveling parallel to the contour at ca. 1.0 m s⁻¹. Displaced washers were located using a metal detector, and the distance and azimuth of the resultant displacement of each washer from its original burial location was measured using compass and tape. Resultant displacement distances were then resolved into their component vectors of displacement parallel and perpendicular to the contour. A linear regression equation was developed expressing mean soil displacement distance as a function of slope gradient. Tillage translocation and deposition were modeled as diffusion-type geomorphic processes, and their rates were described in terms of the diffusion constant (k). A multivariate statistical model was developed expressing mean soil displacement distance as a function of gravimetric moisture content, soil bulk density, slope gradient, and direction of furrow slice displacement. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a weak correlation between soil displacement and both bulk density and moisture content. Soil displacement was, however, significantly correlated with direction of furrow slice displacement. Tillage translocation rates were expressed in terms of the diffusion constant (k) and ranged from 105 to 113 kg m⁻¹ per tillage operation. Tillage deposition rates ranged from 54 to 148 kg m⁻¹ per tillage operation. With respect to tillage deposition, the diffusion constant calculated from volumetric measurements of tillage deposits equals ca. 150 kg/m. The rates of tillage translocation and deposition are not completely in balance; however, these rates do suggest that soil tillage is a significant geomorphic process on Palouse hillslopes and could account for the some of the variations in soil physical properties and crop yield potential at the hillslope and farm-field scale in the Palouse region.     

Effects of tillage systems and rotations on crop production for a thin Black Chernozem in the Canadian Prairies

Soil degradation is the single most important threat to global food production and security. Wind and water erosion are the main forms of this degradation, and conservation tillage represents an effective method for controlling this problem. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of three tillage methods [zero (ZT), minimum (MT) and conventional (CT)] and three four-year crop sequences [spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–spring wheat–winter wheat–fallow; spring wheat–spring wheat–flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)–winter wheat; spring wheat–flax–winter wheat–field pea (Pisum sativum L.] on crop establishment, plant height, seed weight, soil water storage, crop water use, crop water use efficiency and grain yield over a 12-year period under Canadian growing conditions. Plant establishment was not adversely affected by tillage systems or crop sequences except for flax, where a small reduction was observed with ZT and MT. Conservation tillage showed a yield benefit over CT of 7%, 12.5% and 7.4% for field pea, flax and spring wheat grown on cereal stubble, respectively over the 12 years of the study. Much of the yield increase was due to an increase in soil water in the 0–30 cm soil layer with ZT and MT. However, tillage systems had no effect on grain yield for spring wheat grown on fallow and field pea stubble due to a lack of differences in spring soil water content. Flax grown in sequence with cereals only yielded higher than when it was grown in the sequence which included field pea, even though flax was seeded on spring wheat stubble in both cases. Winter wheat yielded higher when grown on flax stubble than on spring wheat stubble. The results indicate that a one-year non-cereal break crop was enough to alleviate the negative effects of consecutive cereal crops on winter wheat. Spring wheat grown on field pea stubble always yielded more than when grown on cereal stubble. A 10% increase in water use efficiency was observed with flax grown with ZT and MT management. Crop sequence improved water use efficiency in flax and spring wheat. Growing spring wheat on field pea stubble as opposed to growing it on cereal stubble resulted in a 10% increase in water use efficiency. Overall, rainfall accounted for 73%, 72%, 67% and 65% of total water used by field pea, flax, winter wheat and spring wheat, respectively. This explains the large year effect as a result of variation in growing (May–August) season precipitation. The non-significant tillage system by year interaction implies that the positive benefits of ZT and MT occur over a wide range of growing conditions, while the absence of a tillage system by crop sequence interaction suggests that knowledge developed under CT management also applies to ZT and MT. The results of this study support the large shifts towards in conservation tillage being observed in the Canadian prairies.     

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.     

Effects of irrigation interval and tillage systems on irrigated cotton and succeeding wheat crop under a heavy clay soil in the Sudan

A water crisis that occurs in Sudan during winter due to the competition for water to irrigate cotton (Gossipium barbadense L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and to produce hydroelectric power necessitates a search for efficient means and ways of conserving water. Tillage is one of the methods for soil moisture conservation. Experiments were conducted in Gezira, Sudan on a Vertisol to determine if tillage practices and the lengthening of irrigation interval beyond two weeks during the period October–February would conserve irrigation water and maintain cotton yields. The residual effects of cotton tillage systems on the following wheat were also evaluated. The cotton experiment was conducted in split plot design with three replications. Three irrigation treatments of two-, three- and four-week intervals during the period October–February were used as main plots. Six tillage treatments were used as split plots (combinations of disc ploughing, cultivator and ridging). Treatments were compared by measuring cotton plant height and yields. Significant decreases in cotton yield were found between the four-week, and the two- and three-week irrigation intervals. However, no significant differences in cotton yields between the two- and the three-week irrigation intervals were detected. The lengthening of irrigation interval from two to three weeks during the period of irrigation water crisis (October–February) would result in conservation of about 3000 m³ ha⁻¹ of irrigation water. This corresponds to about 600 000 000 m³ of water for the cotton irrigated area in the Sudan. Therefore, the three-week irrigation interval during the period October–February has the potential for water conservation for cotton production in Gezira Vertisols, with the use of economical shallow tillage. The tested deep and shallow cotton tillage treatments did not have residual effects on the following wheat crop.     

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.     

夏玉米和冬小麦秸秆对石灰性土壤磷吸附特性及磷素形态的影响

本文对夏玉米秸秆(MR)和冬小麦秸秆(WR)单施或者与P肥混施(在等P量条件下)对石灰性土壤P的吸附特性及其形态转化进行了为期15周的室内模拟培养研究,结果表明,无论是MR和WR单施,还是秸秆与P肥混施,都可以减少土壤对P的吸附量,提高土壤P的活性,其中秸秆单施处理的活性无机磷(Pi)和有机磷(Po)(NaHCO3-P或者NaOH-P)提高较大,夏玉米秸秆单施时,比对照(CK)增加Pi、Po的量分别达6.0、5.6mgkg-1(NaHCO3-P),增加NaOH-Po为12.7mgkg-1。并通过Langmuir方程求得P的最大吸附量(b)、P吸附结合能常数(k)、P素最大缓冲量(MPBC)、标准需P量(SPR)的值,进一步说明了两种秸秆均可使土壤对P的吸附能力降低,增加土壤中P的活性。     

Effects of tillage method and fallow frequency on leaf spotting diseases of spring wheat in the semiarid Canadian prairies

Leaf spotting diseases of wheat (Triticum spp.) are widespread in western Canada. Because these diseases are residue-borne, they are expected to be affected by changes in the quality and quantity of crop residues. A field study was conducted to determine the effects of summerfallow and tillage practices on leaf spotting diseases of spring wheat (T. aestivum L.) in the semiarid area of the western Canadian prairies. Leaf spot severity was greater in wheat grown after fallow than in continuous wheat when these systems were managed using either cultivator- or zero-tillage methods. Disease severity in wheat after fallow was similar in all three tillage methods: cultivator-, reduced-, and zero-tillage. Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs. (tan spot) was the pathogen most commonly isolated from lesioned leaf tissue. Crop residues collected in the spring of 1995 and 1996 from cultivator- and zero-tillage treatments were examined for the presence and density of fungal infective structures. The density of mature and immature structures, especially of P. tritici-repentis, was greater in residues from two years previous than in those from the previous growing season. Most of the residues in the continuous wheat system were from the previous crop. The apparent lower amount of initial inoculum available in a continuous wheat system than in wheat grown after fallow would explain the higher leaf spotting severity in the latter system. In addition, lower levels of infective structures on residues were found in wheat after fallow in zero- rather than in cultivator-tillage. However, similar disease levels in cultivator- and zero-tillage treatments suggest that the more favourable microclimate for disease development in a zero-tillage system might have compensated for the lower amounts of residue-borne inoculum.     

A minimum data set for soil quality assessment of wheat and maize cropping in the highlands of Mexico

The objective was to establish a minimum soil quality dataset for a long-term tillage, residue management and rotation trial for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) production systems. Based on this soil quality evaluation, sustainable management practices could be selected for transferring technologies to farmers in the region. A long-term experiment was conducted with 16 different crop management practices varying in: (1) rotation (continuous maize or wheat and both phases of the rotation of maize and wheat), (2) tillage (conventional and zero) and (3) crop residue management (full retention or removal for fodder). Superior soil quality was considered to represent the maintenance of high productivity without significant soil or environmental degradation. The pertinent, minimum soil quality data set included the following physical indicators: time-to-pond, aggregate stability, permanent wilting point, and topsoil penetration resistance. Chemical indicators were: soil C, N, K and Zn concentrations, measured in the 0–5 cm topsoil and C, N concentration in 5–20 cm. Multivariate analysis grouped the treatments into clusters: (1) zero tillage with retention of residue, (2) zero tillage with residue removal and (3) conventional tillage. Zero tillage combined with crop residue retention improved chemical and physical conditions of the soil. In contrast, zero tillage with removal of residues, led to high accumulation of Mn in the topsoil, low aggregate stability, high penetration resistance, surface slaking resulting in low time-to-pond values and high runoff. Finally, soil quality under conventional tillage was intermediate (irrespective of residue management), especially reflected in the physical status of the soil. The results provide a strong justification to promote zero tillage technology combined with appropriate residue management to farmers in the volcanic highlands of Central Mexico and other similar regions. The minimum data set and associated tools for careful monitoring and observation, will be essential for evaluating soil quality in farmer's fields.     

晋西黄土区不同植被覆盖小流域的产流输沙特性

为了进行不同植被覆盖小流域的产流输沙研究,以山西省吉县蔡家川流域内部嵌套的3个典型小流域为研究对象,采用对比分析的方法,探索降雨特性和植被覆盖条件对流域产流输沙的影响。结果表明:小流域产生的径流量和输沙量均随着降雨量的增大而增大,但并不成一定比例;小流域的径流量和输沙量也随降雨强度的增大而增大,泥沙量的增长幅度大于径流量;在黄土区,短历时的暴雨易产生严重水土流失,应该作为水土流失预防的重点;在不同植被覆盖条件下,以封禁植被为主的小流域产生的径流量和输沙量最小,人工植被为主的小流域次之,水平梯田为主的小流域最大;在封禁条件下自然恢复植被为主的小流域对黄土区典型暴雨的水土流失预防效果最佳。因此,如何在水土流失严重的黄土高原地区仿拟自然进行植被恢复,是有效控制水土流失的关键。     

Impact of agronomic practices on populations of Fusarium and other fungi in cereal and noncereal crop residues on the Canadian Prairies

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an important disease which has been causing damage to wheat and barley crops in western Canada. Because crop residues are an important source of inoculum, it is important to know the ability of Fusarium spp. to colonize and survive in different residue types, and how their populations might be affected by agronomic practices. Sampling of residue types on producers’ fields for quantification of Fusarium and other fungi was conducted in 2000–2001 in eastern Saskatchewan. Fusarium spp. were isolated from most fields, whereas their mean percentage isolation (MPI) was over 50% for cereal and pulse residues, and under 30% for oilseed residues. The most common Fusarium, F. avenaceum, had a higher MPI in pulse and flax (45–48%) than in cereal or canola (10–22%) residues. This was followed by F. equiseti, F. acuminatum, F. graminearum, F. culmorum and F. poae which were isolated from all, or most, residue types. Factors affecting Fusarium abundance in residues included the current crop, cropping history, and tillage system. In cereal residues, the MPI of F. avenaceum was higher when the current crop was another cereal (24%) versus a noncereal (4–8%). When the current crop was another cereal, the lowest MPI of F. avenaceum and F. culmorum occurred when the field had been in summerfallow (SF) two years previous (F. avenaceum: 17% for SF, 28% for a crop; F. culmorum: 1% for SF, 4% for a crop); in contrast, F. equiseti and Cochliobolus sativus were most common in residues of cereal crops preceded by SF (F. equiseti: 16% for SF, 10% for a crop; C. sativus: 22% for SF, 13% for a crop). The MPI of F. graminearum was higher when the crop two years previous was an oilseed (7%) versus a cereal (4%). In regards to tillage effects, when the current crop was a cereal, the MPI of F. avenaceum was higher under minimum (MT) and zero tillage (ZT) (22–37%) than conventional tillage (CT) (15%), that of F. graminearum was lowest under ZT (3% for ZT, 7–11% for CT-MT), whereas that of C. sativus was highest under CT (27% for CT, 6–11% for MT-ZT). Under ZT, previous glyphosate applications were correlated positively with F. avenaceum and negatively with F. equiseti and C. sativus. These observations generally agreed with results from previous FHB and root rot studies of wheat and barley in the same region. Percentage isolation of F. avenaceum from noncereal and of F. graminearum from cereal residues were positively correlated with FHB severity and percentage Fusarium-damaged kernels of barley and wheat caused by the same fungi.