Effects of tillage and traffic on crop production in dryland farming systems: II. Long-term simulation of crop production using the PERFECT model

Soil water conservation is critical to long-term crop production in dryland cropping areas in Northeast Australia. Many field studies have shown the benefits of controlled traffic and zero tillage in terms of runoff and soil erosion reduction, soil moisture retention and crop yield improvement. However, there is lack of understanding of the long-term effect of the combination of controlled traffic and zero tillage practices, as compared with other tillage and traffic management practices.In this study, a modeling approach was used to estimate the long-term effect of tillage, traffic, crop rotation and type, and soil management practices in a heavy clay soil. The PERFECT soil–crop simulation model was calibrated with data from a 5-year field experiment in Northeast Australia in terms of runoff, available soil water and crop yield; the procedure and outcomes of this calibration were given in a previous contribution. Three cropping systems with different tillage and traffic treatments were simulated with the model over a 44-year-period using archived weather data.Results showed higher runoff, and lower soil moisture and crop production with conventional tillage and accompanying field traffic than with controlled traffic and zero tillage. The effect of traffic is greater than the effect of tillage over the long-term. The best traffic, tillage and crop management system was controlled traffic zero tillage in a high crop intensity rotation, and the worst was conventional traffic and stubble mulch with continuous wheat. Increased water infiltration and reduced runoff under controlled traffic resulted in more available soil water and higher crop yield under opportunity cropping systems.     

Wheel traffic and tillage effects on runoff and crop yield

Traffic and tillage effects on runoff, soil water and crop production under rainfall were investigated over a period of 6 years on a heavy clay vertosols (vertisols) in Queensland, Australia. A split plot design was used to isolate traffic effects, while the cropping program and treatments were broadly representative of extensive grain production practice in the northern grain region of Australia. Treatments subject to zero tillage and stubble mulch tillage each comprised pairs of 90 m² plots, from which runoff was recorded. A 3 m wide controlled traffic system allowed one of each pair to be maintained as a non-wheeled plot, while the complete surface area of the other received a single annual wheeling treatment from a working 100 kW tractor.

Mean annual runoff from controlled traffic plots was 81 mm (36.3%) smaller than that from wheeled plots, while runoff from zero tillage was reduced by 31 mm (15.7%). Traffic and tillage effects appeared to be cumulative, so the mean annual runoff from controlled traffic and zero tillage plots, representing best practice, was 112 mm (47.2%) less than that from wheeled stubble mulch plots, representing conventional cropping practice. Rainfall infiltration into controlled traffic zero tillage soil was thus 12.0% greater than into wheeled stubble mulched soil. Rainfall/runoff hydrographs show that wheeling produced a large and consistent increase in runoff, whereas tillage produced a smaller increase. Treatment effects were greater on dry soil, but were still present in large and intense rainfall events on wet soil.

Plant available water capacity (PAWC) in the 0–500 mm zone increased by 10 mm (11.5%) and mean grain yields increased by 337 kg/ha (9.4%) in controlled traffic plots, compared with wheeled plots. Mean grain yield of zero tillage was 2–8% greater than that of stubble mulch plots for all crops except for winter wheat in 1994 and 1998. Increased infiltration and plant available water were probably responsible for increased mean grain yields of 497 kg/ha (14.5%) in controlled traffic zero tillage, compared with wheeled stubble mulch treatments. Dissipation of tractive and tillage energy in the soil is the apparent mechanism of deleterious effects on the soils ability to support productive cropping in this environment. Controlled traffic and conservation tillage farming systems appear to be a practicable solution.     

Effect of tillage and crop rotations on pore size distribution and soil hydraulic conductivity in sandy clay loam soil of the Indian Himalayas

Tillage management can affect crop growth by altering the pore size distribution, pore geometry and hydraulic properties of soil. In the present communication, the effect of different tillage management viz., conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and zero-tillage (ZT) and different crop rotations viz. [(soybean–wheat (S–W), soybean–lentil (S–L) and soybean–pea (S–P)] on pore size distribution and soil hydraulic conductivities [saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity {k(h)}] of a sandy clay loam soil was studied after 4 years prior to the experiment. Soil cores were collected after 4 year of the experiment at an interval of 75 mm up to 300 mm soil depth for measuring soil bulk density, soil water retention constant (b), pore size distribution, K_sat and k(h). Nine pressure levels (from 2 to 1500 kPa) were used to calculate pore size distribution and k(h). It was observed that b values at all the studied soil depths were higher under ZT than those observed under CT irrespective of the crop rotations. The values of soil bulk density observed under ZT were higher in 0–75 mm soil depth in all the crop rotations. But, among the crop rotations, soils under S–P and S–L rotations showed relatively lower bulk density values than S–W rotation. Average values of the volume fraction of total porosity with pores <7.5 μm in diameter (effective pores for retaining plant available water) were 0.557, 0.636 and 0.628 m³ m⁻³ under CT, MT and ZT; and 0.592, 0.610 and 0.626 m³ m⁻³ under S–W, S–L and S–P, respectively. In contrast, the average values of the volume fraction of total porosity with pores >150 μm in diameter (pores draining freely with gravity) were 0.124, 0.096 and 0.095 m³ m⁻³ under CT, MT and ZT; and 0.110, 0.104 and 0.101 m³ m⁻³ under S–W, S–L and S–P, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity values in all the studied soil depths were significantly greater under ZT than those under CT (range from 300 to 344 mm day⁻¹). The observed k(h) values at 0–75 mm soil depth under ZT were significantly higher than those computed under CT at all the suction levels, except at −10, −100 and −400 kPa suction. Among the crop rotations, S–P rotation recorded significantly higher k(h) values than those under S–W and S–L rotations up to −40 kPa suction. The interaction effects of tillage and crop rotations affecting the k(h) values were found significant at all the soil water suctions. Both S–L and S–P rotations resulted in better soil water retention and transmission properties under ZT.     

Effects of tillage systems in dryland farming on near-surface water content during the late winter period

Tillage systems modify, at least temporarily, some of the physical properties of soil, such as soil porosity. Tillage also has an indirect effect on soil water content throughout the growth cycle, particularly in areas with a Mediterranean climate. This paper presents the results of monitoring the water content in the topsoil (0–0.20 m) of three adjacent plots during February to May cycles starting in 1994–1995 and ending in 1998–1999. Each of the plots had a surface area of 2700 m², an 8% slope and Calcic Cambisol soil. Starting in 1994, three different tillage systems were applied: conventional tillage, which is typical of the area (CT); minimum tillage (MT); and no-tillage (NT). Two vertical 200 mm TDR probes were permanently installed in each plot and measurements were taken every week. The results show that, under an NT system, the soil had significantly higher water content than the other two soil plots. However, this increased quantity of water did not denote increased crop production; on the contrary, these preliminary data point to a decrease in crop production.     

Effect of deep tillage for vineyard establishment on soil structure: A case study in Southern France

Deep tillage that is used before vine plantation to remove old vine roots and loosen subsoil may induce physical soil degradation that could affect soil structure and vine water supply. The objective of the study was to experimentally evaluate the effect of deep tillage on soil structure. The impacts on soil structure of two deep tillage techniques, i.e. deep ploughing and ripper, and two contrasted soil water conditions were compared in a experimental field by combining morphological observations, bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements. These three methods were found very complementary to analyse and discriminate the impact of the different treatments. The proportion of compacted zones and mean bulk density increased from the initial plot (0.15 m² m⁻², 1.45 Mg m⁻³) to a maximum in the case of the deep ploughing under wet conditions plot (0.60 m² m⁻², 1.60 Mg m⁻³). The main results showed that (i) a significant soil compaction was observed after wet conditions only, (ii) deep ploughing produced more soil compaction than ripper because of a greater volume of soil affected by wheeling in the former operation and (iii) a specific response of soils is significatively observed in the case of deep ploughing only with an increase of compacted zones fragmentation in relation to a decrease of clay content.     

不同耕作方式对旱作区冬小麦生产和产量的影响

为了筛选出适宜旱作区推广的耕作技术,在旱作大田条件下,设置一次深翻、免耕覆盖、深松覆盖、传统耕作四种耕作方式,研究了不同耕作方式下花后土壤水分和养分状况、小麦旗叶叶绿素含量、小麦旗叶净光合速率和小麦籽粒灌浆速率及产量。结果表明,免耕覆盖、深松覆盖开花期和灌浆期0～40 cm土层土壤水分含量分别比传统耕作提高了4.13%、6.23%和5.50%、9.27%,0～40 cm土层土壤碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量均显著高于传统耕作,为小麦开花后生长发育提供了良好的环境,从而提高了小麦灌浆中后期旗叶叶绿素含量和净光合速率,促进花后干物质积累及干物质向籽粒转运,进而提高了籽粒灌浆速率,使得籽粒产量显著提高。     

Effect of tillage management on energy-use efficiency and economics of soybean (Glycine max) based cropping systems under the rainfed conditions in North-West Himalayan Region

The study on energy-use efficiency and economics of soybean based cropping system, viz., soybean–wheat (Glycine max 9 L., Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.), soybean–lentil (Lens culinaris Medicus) and soybean–field pea (Pisum sativum L., sensu lato), was carried out at the Hawalbagh experimental farm of Vivekananda Institute of Hill Agriculture, Almora, Uttarakhand, India during 2001–2003 (29°36′ N, 79°40′ E). These cropping systems, under rainfed conditions, were evaluated with different tillage management practices, viz., zero tillage (ZT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT). Each tillage management practice, under each cropping system was evaluated for total energy output, energy input–output ratio, gross income, net income and marginal income, to variable cost of cultivation. Results revealed that the maximum energy was consumed in terms of chemical fertilizers, followed by seed and plant protection chemicals, in all cropping systems. Equivalent energy was used from literature for conversion purpose. The maximum output energy was observed in CT (44,253 MJ/ha), followed by MT for soybean–lentil cropping system (43,450 MJ/ha). The output–input energy ratio was maximum in ZT for soybean–lentil (4.9) followed by MT for soybean–pea cropping system (4.6). The economic analysis also revealed that the maximum benefits could be obtained from these sequences. Conventional tillage for all cropping sequences was found to be a better option as compared to minimum tillage and zero tillage. Benefit–cost ratios were higher in conventional tillage in all the three cropping systems. However, from the point of energy saving or cost reduction, zero tillage and minimum tillage may be considered depending on resources.     

耕作措施和秸秆还田对双季稻田土壤氮渗漏的影响

针对免耕稻田土壤物理性状的改变引起的土壤氮素淋洗问题,通过定位试验研究了不同耕作措施的稻田土壤氮素特征,为免耕稻田氮素的高效利用提供依据。研究在我国双季稻典型区湖南省宁乡县长期定位试验田进行,该试验地自2005年设置免耕秸秆还田（NT）、旋耕秸秆还田（RT）、翻耕秸秆还田（CT）和翻耕秸秆不还田（CT0）4种耕作处理,重复3次。使用定水头法分层测定0～80 cm土壤导水率,测定分析各处理80cm处土壤渗漏液铵态氮、硝态氮含量差异。研究结果表明,NT 0～80 cm土壤的饱和导水率较CT提高了63.14%,NT铵态氮、硝态氮渗漏量显著高于其他处理。秸秆还田措施使早稻耕作覆水初期渗漏水中硝态氮含量显著高于不还田处理。从全年淋失总量估算结果来看,各处理铵态氮渗漏量约是硝态氮的2倍。总之,相对于耕作处理,免耕会使氮素淋失量增加,而长期淹水条件下稻田铵态氮渗漏应得到更多的重视。     

基于Meta分析评价东北黑土地保护性耕作与深耕的区域适宜性：以作物产量为例

为防治黑土退化、保护好利用好黑土地,本研究基于东北黑土区已发表61篇文献543组研究数据,利用Meta分析和随机森林模型等方法,分析黑土地保护性耕作与深耕对作物产量的影响及其驱动因素,耦合东北黑土地区气候、地形和土壤等信息,评价保护性耕作与深耕的适宜性。结果表明：与传统耕作相比,东北黑土地区整体而言保护性耕作增产不明显（1.21%）,而深耕增产显著（12.3%）,区域分析表明前者仅在辽河平原显著增产14.6%,而后者在三江、松嫩和辽河平原均增产10%以上。因素分析表明黑土区保护性耕作产量效应主要受多年平均气温（20%）、积温（19%）和干燥指数（16%）的影响,深耕产量效果则受坡度影响最大（14%）,平坦区域适宜深耕,陡坡耕地适宜保护性耕作。综合上述因子评价区域适宜性程度,东北地区的西南部,包括辽宁省西部、吉林省西部以及内蒙古自治区东部（赤峰市、通辽）等严重风蚀区域实行保护性耕作效果更佳;典型黑土带以及三江平原等湿润、冷凉、低洼区域深耕的效果较好。本研究成果可为保护性耕作与深耕技术在东北黑土区的推广应用提供参考。     

Tillage erosion within potato production systems in Atlantic Canada: I. Measurement of tillage translocation by implements used in seedbed preparation

In Canada, there is growing acceptance that tillage erosion is a serious form of soil degradation and a threat to the sustainability of agriculture across the country. To date, the potential risk for tillage erosion within potato production systems has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to generate tillage translocation values for primary and secondary tillage implements common to seedbed preparation within conventionally and conservation tilled potato production systems in Atlantic Canada. Tillage translocation was measured for each implement by labelling a plot of soil with a tracer. The tracer redistribution along the path of tillage was used to generate a summation curve to calculate mean soil movement in the direction of tillage. The results show that each primary and secondary tillage operation moved vast quantities of soil and is potentially erosive. Maximum displacement distances were considerably larger in this project than those reported in previous studies looking at tillage erosion by primary and/or secondary tillage implements. All four tillage implements tested moved soil at least 3 m, with the greatest translocated distances (5.6 m) observed for the chisel plough (CP) and vibrashank (VS). The mass of translocated soil (T_M) was greatest for the CP, followed by the mouldboard plough (MP), VS and offset disc (OD). In addition, compared to travelling downslope, the upslope speed of tillage was reduced by 38%, 21%, 32% and 12% for the MP, CP, OD and VS, respectively, while the depth of tillage was reduced by 6%, 5%, 35% and 2%, respectively. It is apparent that conservation tillage implements (the CP is generally promoted to reduce water erosion in Atlantic Canada) and secondary tillage implements (OD and VS) can move as much soil as conventional tillage implements such as the mouldboard plough, and must be considered when developing plans to reduce soil erosion within potato fields in Atlantic Canada.     

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.     

耕翻和秸秆还田深度对东北黑土物理性质的影响

为了明确耕翻和秸秆还田深度对土壤物理性质的影响,在东北黑土区中部进行了6 a的耕翻和秸秆还田定位试验,设置了免耕（D0）、浅耕翻（0～20 cm）（D20）、浅耕翻+秸秆（D20S）、深耕翻（0～35 cm）（D35）、深耕翻+秸秆（D35S）、超深耕翻（0～50 cm）（D50）和超深耕翻+秸秆（D50S）7个处理开展研究,秸秆还田处理将10 000 kg/hm2秸秆均匀地还入相应的耕翻土层。结果表明,耕翻和秸秆还田深度是影响土壤物理性质的重要农艺措施。与初始土壤相比,免耕显著增加了0～20 cm土层土壤容重,减少了孔隙度、持水量、饱和导水率和>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的含量（WAS>0.25）（P<0.05）,而对20～50 cm土层没有显著影响（P>0.05）。在0～20 cm土层,除了D50处理显著降低了WAS>0.25含量以外,D20,D35和D50处理对各项土壤物理指标均没有显著影响;而D20S和D35S处理则显著改善了该层各项土壤物理指标。在>20～35 cm土层,D35、D35S、D50和D50S处理显著改善了该土层各项土壤物理指标（除了2014年的容重）。在>35～50 cm土层,D50和D50S处理对各项土壤物理指标改善效果显著,特别是相应土层通气孔隙度和饱和导水率显著增加。研究结果表明耕翻配合秸秆对土壤物理指标的改善效果优于仅耕翻处理。综合评分结果也表明D35S和D50S处理分别对>20～35 cm和>35～50 cm土层土壤物理性质的改善效果最好,说明在质地黏重的黑土上深翻耕或者超深翻耕配合秸秆还田通过土层翻转秸秆全层混合施用能够显著改善全耕作层土壤的物理性质,增加耕层厚度,扩充土壤的水分库容,提高黑土的水分调节能力。     

Effects of alternative tillage systems on soil quality and yield of spring cereals on silty clay loam and sandy loam soils in the cool, wet climate of central Norway

Tillage trials were established on a poorly drained silty loam overlying silty clay loam and on a freely drained sandy loam overlying medium sand, in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Autumn and spring ploughing and two ploughless systems were compared for 12–13 years, with three replications at each site. The ploughless treatments comprised deep versus shallow spring harrowing until 1999, and thereafter autumn plus spring harrowing versus spring harrowing only. In 6 years, treatments with and without fungal spraying of the cereal crops were included. In other years, fungicides were not used. Perennial weeds were controlled by herbicides as necessary, on nine occasions up until 2001. Average spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring oat (Avena sativa L.) yields were similar with spring ploughing as with autumn ploughing at both sites. In treatments without ploughing, average yields on the silty loam over clay were 93% of those obtained with ploughing, and on the sandy loam over sand they were 81%. Smaller and non-significant yield differences were found between spring harrowing versus deep spring harrowing, and between autumn plus spring harrowing versus spring harrowing only. Fungal spraying increased yields markedly at both sites (25%), but there was no significant interaction between this treatment and tillage system. Oat was compared with barley in 2 years, with oat performing better under ploughless tillage. At both sites increases in penetrometer resistance occurred in the topsoil of unploughed treatments. These were considered particularly limiting on the sandy loam. On the silty loam there was an increase in surface horizon porosity in the absence of ploughing, which was associated with an increase in topsoil organic matter content. On this soil there was also a tendency toward lower penetrometer resistance at >30 cm depth on autumn plus spring harrowed soil than on ploughed soil, indicating that the plough pan may have diminished. This was supported by observations of greater earthworm activity on unploughed soil. Soil chemical analyses revealed that mineral N and plant-available P and K accumulated in the upper horizon under ploughless tillage. The percentage yields obtained in individual years with autumn as opposed to spring ploughing, were positively correlated with air temperature during 0–4 weeks after planting on the silty loam, and with precipitation during 0–12 weeks after planting on the sandy loam. In the case of yields obtained with spring harrowing only, relative to spring ploughing, positive correlations were found with 0–4 week temperature on both soil types, suggesting that low early season temperatures may limit yields under ploughless tillage.     

不同保护性耕作措施对麦-豆轮作土壤有机碳库的影响

通过设置在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇的不同保护性耕作试验,对春小麦、豌豆两种轮作次序下的土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳、微生物量碳含量进行了测定,并计算了各处理土壤碳库管理指数.结果表明:经过5年的轮作后,与传统耕作相比,两种轮作次序下免耕秸秆覆盖和传统耕作结合秸秆还田处理均能不同程度地提高土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳、微生物量碳含量及土壤碳库管理指数,而免耕不覆盖处理除在0～5 cm提高了土壤有机碳库管理指数外,其他各层次均降低了土壤有机碳库管理指数,说明仅依靠免耕而不结合秸秆覆盖或还田对于土壤有机碳库的管理来讲是不可持续的.