Tillage and residue management influence on corn growth

The large proportion (nearly 90%) of soil covered by crop residue with no-tillage (NT₀) systems often results in decreased soil warming, reduced germination, and reduced early plant growth in parts of the Midwest section of the USA. We hypothesize that removal of some of the residue from the seeding zone could potentially improve crop production with NT₀. Thus, we evaluated the impact of residue removal from a 30-cm-wide zone directly over the row in a no-tillage system (NT₃₀) compared to NT₀ and conventional moldboard tillage (CN) on soil growing degree days (GDD), soil temperature, and corn (Zea mays L.) growth and yield. This investigation was conducted in 1987 and 1988 on a Plano silt loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludalfs). Maximum growth rate (MGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were calculated from weekly measured dry matter and leaf area. Soil temperature at 0–50 cm deep was measured hourly. Soil GDD was calculated from average soil temperature measured at the soil surface and 5 cm deep. Maximum growth rate and RGR were not significantly different between NT₃₀ and CN treatments in 1987. However, mean values of MGR and RGR were significantly greater for NT₃₀ than for NT₀ in 1987. This occurred because soil temperature values with NT₃₀ were similar to those for CN and significantly greater than NT₀. Maximum growth rate and RGR values with NT₃₀ were significantly greater than for CN in 1988. This may have resulted from a lower dry matter and leaf area index (LAI) with CN in 1988. During 1987, NT₃₀ compared to NT₀ had significantly greater time to emergence, MGR, RGR, and soil temperature in the seed zone (0–5 cm) and in the plow zone (0–20 cm). In 1988, NT₃₀ had greater MGR, RGR, and LAI compared to CN because of the conserved soil water in the top 0- to 15-cm layer during an excessively dry soil season. Based on this research, NT₃₀ will provide soil thermal and water conditions that are conducive to good plant growth and production while reducing the potential for soil erosion.     

Tillage and residue management effects on arylamidase activity in soils

Recent interest in soil tillage and residue management has focused on low-input sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of three tillage systems (no-till, chisel plow, and moldboard plow) and four residue placements (bare, normal, mulch, and double mulch) on a most recently detected enzyme in soils, arylamidase activity. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of an N-terminal amino acid from peptides, amides, or arylamides. Results showed that arylamidase activity is greatly affected by tillage and crop residue placement. The greatest activity was found with chisel/mulch, moldboard plow/mulch, and no-till/double mulch, and the lowest with moldboard plow/normal and no-till/bare. Arylamidase activity was significantly correlated with organic C (r=0.59**) and soil pH _CaCl2 (r=0.55**)_, and decreased with soil depth. Results of this work suggest that the activity of this enzyme is affected by soil management, and indicate its potential ecological significance because of its role in the N cycle.     

Tillage and residue management effects on β-glucosaminidase activity in soils

There is an increasing interest in assessing the effects of tillage systems and residue management on biochemical processes, especially enzyme activities, of soils. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of three tillage systems (no-till, chisel plow and moldboard plow) and four residue placements (bare, normal, mulch and double mulch) on the activity of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAGase, EC 3.2.1.30) involved in C and N cycling in soils. The activity values were significantly affected by tillage and residue management practices, being greatest in soils with no-till/double mulch and least with no-till/bare and moldboard/normal. Also, they were the highest under no-till/ double mulch-treated soils. Linear regression analyses showed that the activity of NAGase was significantly correlated with organic C in the surface soils (r=0.89***) and with organic C content at different depths (r=0.97***). The NAGase activity values were significantly correlated with the arylamidase activity values of the soils (r=0.63**), suggesting that tillage and residue management practices have similar impacts on the activities of these enzymes. The activity of this enzyme decreased markedly with increasing depth of the surface soil (0-15 cm) of the no-till/ double mulch-treated plots.     

Tillage and crop residue management effects on losses of chemicals from soils

Tillage and crop residue management both influence the losses of nutrients and crop-protection chemicals from the soil to the aqueous environment. Tillage is performed to control weeds, to modify the soil structure and often to incorporate straw, which can no longer be burnt in European Community countries. The resulting changes in the soil alter both the pathways for water flow and the activities of microbes. This paper reviews their effects on water movement and the microbial and physico-chemical processes that influence the vulnerabilities of nutrients and crop-protection chemicals to leaching. It also suggests some possible options for limiting losses of these substances from the soil. There remains considerable scope for cooperation between tillage specialists and those with an interest in the management of nutrients and crop-protection chemicals.     

Tillage and application effects on herbicide leaching and runoff

Herbicides are key products in sustaining agricultural production and, to minimize agro-environmental concerns regarding their use, continued assessment of their behavior under different management practices is required. Leaching and runoff losses of four herbicides applied preplant-incorporated (PPI) were evaluated in two tillage systems over a 3-year period (1989–1991). Scant leaching during the droughty 1991 growing season limited treatment evaluations to 2 years. Herbicides were applied at recommended rates (1.7 and 2.2 kg active ingredient (a.i.) ha⁻¹) to conventional tillage (CT) and mulch tillage (MT) corn (Zea mays L.) fields on Hagerstown silty clay loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf). Tillage treatments were defined as moldboard plow-disk-harrow (CT) and single-disking (MT). During this study, CT followed 5 years of corn production in a comparable CT system on this site and, similarly, MT followed a 5-year no-tillage (NT) system. Herbicides were applied preemergence (PRE) to CT and NT in the 5-year study and preplant-incorporated (PPI) in this study. Herbicide mobility in subsurface drainage was evaluated from herbicide mass transported to pan lysimeters installed 1.2 m deep. Surface drainage losses of these chemicals were determined from residues in runoff collected with automated sampling and recording equipment.

Leachate volumes were greater from MT than CT in 1989 and 1990 and exceeded all seasonal losses during the previous 5 years under NT management. Comparisons of total seasonal leachate discharged to pan lysimeters within and among studies and herbicide mass leached showed that timing of leachate-inducing precipitation relative to herbicide application was the key factor in regulating herbicide translocation. Herbicide mass transported through the root zone averaged from less than 0.1% to 0.9% of applied rates in CT and from 1.4% to 5.1% in MT.

Leachate-availability of herbicide residues and extent of herbicide longevity in this soil under MT conditions were similar to previous findings under NT management. Despite these behavioral similarities for herbicides among tillages, herbicide mass discharged per unit of percolate was most often lower for MT compared with NT, particularly in early growing seasons of comparable precipitation. Thus, the PPI treatment in MT appeared to reduce leaching of these chemicals compared with PRE application in NT.

Runoff losses of PPI herbicides ranged from 0.35% to 0.77% of applied rates in CT and from 0.13% to 0.28% in MT. Losses of PRE-applied herbicides from NT averaged less than 0.1% of applied rates; maximum yearly losses ranged from 0.06% to 0.18%. Thus, the character of the disked, minimally tilled surface provided a level of impedance to runoff that was greater than achieved with the tilled surface on this 3 to 5% slope, but less than previously obtained with an untilled, mulch-covered surface.     

Tillage and residue management effects on soil physical properties and rice yield in northwestern Himalayan soils

Field experiments were conducted on a silty clay loam (Typic Hapludalf) during 1988–1990 to study the effect of tillage practices, such as puddling (P), compaction (C) and non-puddled dry tillage (NP) with four rates of lantana (Lantana camara L.) residue incorporation (0(M₀), 10(M₁), 20(M₂) and 30 (M₃) t ha⁻¹), on soil physical properties and yield of rice. Greatest water retention was noticed under PM₃, followed by CM₃ and NPM₃. The soil penetration resistance was lowest for NPM₃, followed by PM₃ and CM₃. Puddled treatments either with or without residue impeded infiltration as compared with C and NP. Puddled treatments either with or without residue had higher soil as well as flood water temperature. Residue addition invariably reduced the ploughing energy required after rice harvest; however, among puddling and compaction treatments, puddling consumed less energy. The rice grain yields under puddled treatments were significantly higher than under C and NP irrespective of residue addition.     

再生水灌溉方式对重金属在土壤中残留累积的影响

不同灌溉技术（沟灌、地下滴灌）和灌水方式（充分灌溉、分根交替灌溉）下再生水灌溉对重金属在土壤中残留影响的田间试验表明：其他条件相同时,收获后充分灌水小区土壤重金属Cd含量高于分根交替灌水小区;再生水（二级处理污水）地下滴灌小区高于二级处理污水加氯地下滴灌小区;二级处理污水沟灌小区高于清水灌溉小区;充分灌溉下二级处理污水滴灌小区低于沟灌小区,而分根交替灌溉下沟灌低于滴灌。土壤Pb含量的变化规律与Cd基本相似,除滴灌下二级处理污水区低于二级处理污水加氯小区,无论充分灌溉还是分根交替灌溉均为滴灌低于沟灌。不同处理收获后土壤Pb含量均有不同程度降低;而二级处理污水灌溉小区土壤cd含量较试验前增加0．62％～7．78％,其他处理均有不同程度减小。试验结果为再生水资源的农业安全利用提供了技术依据。     

Tillage,fertilizer type,and plant residue input impacts on soil carbon sequestration rates on a Japanese Andosol

ABSTRACT

To identify efficient field management practices for enhanced soil carbon sequestration suited to crop rotation-based Andosol fields in northern Japan, the impacts of a combination of tillage, fertilizer type, and plant residue input on soil carbon sequestration rates were studied in a 4-year field experiment (April 2007 to March 2011). The rates of changes in soil organic carbon over the entire study period were determined by soil carbon stock change and by net ecosystem carbon budget. Across eight field management treatments and two replicates for each treatment, the rates of changes in soil organic carbon determined by net ecosystem carbon budget were positively correlated with the rates determined by soil carbon stock change (r = 0.766, n = 16). The arithmetic means of the rates determined by net ecosystem carbon budget (1.24 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1) were greater than those determined by soil carbon stock change (?0.18 Mg C ha^?1 year^?1) because decomposing crop residues and composted cattle manure in soil were included in the calculation of the net ecosystem carbon budget but were excluded in the calculation of soil carbon stock change (decomposing crop residues and composted cattle manure in soil samples were removed by sieving in measuring the soil carbon stock change). Both methods led to the same conclusion that soil carbon sequestration was significantly enhanced by composted cattle manure application and increased input of plant carbon from crop residues and green manure but was not enhanced by reduced tillage. The p values for net ecosystem carbon budget were smaller than those for soil carbon stock change in analysis of variance; therefore, the net ecosystem carbon budget was more sensitive to field management practice than the soil carbon stock change.     

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 and crop residue management significantly affects N-trace gas emissions during the non-rice season of a subtropical rice-wheat rotation

Field operations of tillage and residue incorporation could have potentially important influences on N-trace gas fluxes, though poorly quantified. Here we studied the effects of straw incorporation in the preceding rice season and no-tillage prior to wheat sowing on nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions during the non-rice period of a typical rice-wheat rotation in the Yangtze River Delta. Compared to conventional management practice (no straw incorporation along with rotary harrowing tillage to 10 cm before wheat sowing), straw incorporation alone decreased cumulative N₂O emissions over the entire non-rice period by 32% (1.53 vs. 2.24 kg N ha^-1, P < 0.05) but did not affect NO emissions (0.88 vs. 0.87 kg N ha⁻¹). In contrast, no-tillage alone increased N₂O emissions by 75% (P < 0.05) while reducing NO emissions by 48% (P < 0.01). Combination of no-tillage and straw incorporation led to no change in N₂O emissions but a reduction in NO emissions compared to the conventional management regime. The direct N₂O emission factors (EF_ds) of applied nitrogen fertilizers during the non-rice season ranged from 0.29% to 1.35% with a coefficient of variation (CV) as large as 68% among the investigated management regimes. The EF_ds for NO ranged from 0.13% to 0.32% with a CV of 50%. Adoption of these new EF_ds will allow us to account for management effects on N-trace gas emissions when calculating emission inventories. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the uncertainty remains high, since the effects of soil properties such as texture or pH on management practices are not yet well defined.     

Simulating the impact of irrigation management on the water and salt balance in drained marsh soils (Marismas, Spain)

Abstract. Using the simulation model MACRO, this paper investigates the likely consequences of reduced irrigation inputs on the water and salt balance and crop growth in a drained, saline clay in a Mediterranean climate (Marismas, SW Spain). The model was first successfully validated against field measurements of the soil water and chloride balance, water table depths and drain outflows in the 1989 growing season. Three-year simulations were then performed assuming two different irrigation applications (60 and 75% reductions from the 1989 amount) and two different frequencies (12 or 6 irrigations per growing season). The model predictions suggested that reduced irrigation may lead to up to a 15%) increase in the chloride content of the soil profile after 3 years. Also, despite overall reductions in water discharge, slight increases in chloride leaching via field drains ( c. 4 to 8%) were predicted. The model demonstrated that encroachment of salt into the soil profile may he exacerbated by the non-equilibrium nature of water flow and solute transport ('by-passing flow') in structured clays. With reduced water supply for irrigation, more frequent applications may give marginally better crop yields for the same quantity of irrigation but at the expense of slightly increasing salt concentration in the root zone.     

The effect of crop residue incorporation date on soil inorganic nitrogen, nitrate leaching and nitrogen mineralization

 Delaying cultivation and incorporation of arable crop residues may delay the release of NO₃ ^– and hence reduce leaching. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of timing of cultivation on the mineralization and leaching of NO₃ ^– from an arable crop residue. Overwinter N leaching and periodic measurements of soil inorganic N were combined to estimate net N mineralized after ploughing a crop residue into a free-draining loamy sand soil in central England on six dates from June 1994 to January 1995. The crop residue was whole green barley with approximately 2% N. N leaching in the two following winters was increased by the addition of crop residues. Early residue application also tended to increase N leached in the first winter, largely as a consequence of relatively large losses early in the drainage period. Thus, early incorporation of crop residues presents a greater leaching risk. The amount of N leached in the second (drier) winter was similar for all dates of incorporation. At the end of the first winter, inorganic N derived from the crop residue was greatest for earlier additions: June (40% N applied) > September (30% N applied) > August (20% N applied) > October (19% N applied) > November (11% N applied) > January (3% N applied). However, at the end of the experiment, there was no evidence that the residues which had mineralized least by the end of the first winter had, to any significant degree, caught up, and this was confirmed by the parameters of the equation for first-order decomposition in thermal time. These results indicate that the effect of temperature, particularly in the early stages of residue mineralization, is complex and interacts with other soil processes in terms of the fate of the N mineralized. Received: 19 July 1999     

Tillage and residue management effects on temporal changes in soil organic carbon and fractions of a silty loam soil in the North China Plain

Soil degradation and associated depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) have been major concerns in intensive farming systems because of the subsequent decline in crop yields. We assessed temporal changes in SOC and its fractions under different tillage systems for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) – maize (Zea mays L.) cropping in the North China Plain. Four tillage systems were established in 2001: plow tillage (PT), rotary tillage (RT), no‐till (NT), and plow tillage with residues removed (PT0). Concentrations of SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC), non‐POC (NPOC), labile organic carbon (LOC), non‐LOC (NLOC), heavy fraction carbon (HFC) and light fraction carbon (LFC) were determined to assess tillage‐induced changes in the top 50 cm. Concentrations of SOC and C fractions declined with soil depth and were significantly affected by tillage over time. The results showed that SOC and its fractions were enhanced under NT and RT from 0 to 10 cm depth compared with values for PT and PT0. Significant decreases were observed below 10 cm depths (P < 0.05) regardless of the tillage system. The SOC concentration under NT for 0–5 cm depth was 18%, 8%, and 10% higher than that under PT0 after 7, 9, and 12 yr of NT adoption, respectively. Apparent stratification of SOC occurred under NT compared with PT and PT0 for depths >10 cm. All parameters were positively correlated (P < 0.01); linear regressions exhibited similar patterns (P < 0.01). Therefore, to maintain and improve SOC levels, residue inputs should be complemented by the adoption of suitable tillage systems.     

不同残膜量和灌溉定额对棉花养分和水分利用的影响

【目的】 水资源短缺背景下,残膜污染制约棉花生长和水肥利用问题日益突出,探究不同残膜量及灌溉定额对棉花养分及水分利用的影响,可为残膜污染风险阈值评价及棉田可持续发展提供理论支撑。 【方法】 本研究以新疆典型覆膜滴灌棉田种植体系为研究对象,设置残膜量和灌溉定额2个调节因子,3个残膜量梯度为0、225和450 kg/hm2,分别用T1、T2和T3表示;3个灌溉定额为3450 m3/hm2、4650 m3/hm2和5850 m3/hm2,分别用W1、W2和W3表示。分析了不同残膜量和灌溉定额对棉花生物量、养分吸收利用及水分利用效率的影响。 【结果】 1) 棉田蒸散量受残膜量、灌溉定额及二者交互作用的影响显著,而生物量、水分利用效率和养分吸收量仅受残膜和灌溉定额单因子的影响显著。2) 增加残膜量降低了籽棉产量和水分利用效率,不利于生物量及养分吸收量的提高,器官及单株养分吸收量明显减少,氮、磷利用效率均呈逐渐增大趋势。3) W1～W2范围内,随着灌溉定额的增加,棉田蒸散量显著增加,生物量、籽棉产量、养分吸收量呈增加趋势,当灌溉定额增至W3时,上述指标又逐渐降低。4) 不同灌溉定额下,残膜量在0～450 kg/hm2范围内,减产9.6%～13.1%,增加灌溉定额产量增加10.1%～13.4%,但耗水量增幅却高达6.8%～29.2%。表明残膜污染情况下,在一定范围内增加灌溉定额,可以减轻残膜对棉花生物量、产量及水肥利用效率的降幅,但显著增大了棉田耗水量。 【结论】 适当增加灌溉定额会减轻残膜带来的负面效应,但灌水对残膜的响应是建立在增加棉田耗水量的基础上。因此,残膜量增加会增大棉田耗水量,采取措施减轻地膜残留量,有助于促进棉花产量的提高和水肥的高效利用。      

Tillage and crop residue management affect vertisol properties and grain sorghum growth over seven years in the semi-arid sub-tropics. 1. Crop residue and soil water during fallow periods

The effects of fallow surface management treatments on stubble (crop residue) levels and soil water storage were studied during seven fallow periods between grain sorghum crops on a grey Vertisol near Biloela in central Queensland, Australia. Treatments were disc (D), blade (B) and zero (Z) tillage, each with stubble or residue from preceding crops either retained (+) or removed (-) at the start of the fallow periods, which were of 7–8 months duration.

Where stubble was retained, stubble dry matter levels on the soil surface at the start of the fallow period were mainly influenced by stubble produced by the previous crop, but also by residual stubble on the soil surface before the previous crop. The general order was D +< B +< Z+.

Stubble dry matter and stubble cover on the soil surface declined during the fallow period in all stubble-retained treatments, with the greatest reductions occurring after the initial disc or blade tillage. From the start to end of the fallow, mean reductions in stubble dry matter and stubble cover were, respectively, 60 and 74% in D+, 31 and 57% in B+, and 17 and 24% in Z+. Mean stubble dry matter levels on the soil surface at the end of the fallow period in December–January were 1030, 2030 and 2910 kg ha⁻¹ in D+, B+ and Z+, respectively; corresponding stubble cover levels were 8, 16 and 35%.

Mean plant available water capacity to 1.8 m was 201 mm. Mean fallow soil water accumulation varied between fallow periods from 11 to 102 mm. The corresponding variation in mean fallow water storage efficiency (percentage of rainfall over the fallow stored in the soil) was from 3 to 37%. Fallow soil water accumulation was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Z+ (116 mm) than in Z- (86 mm), D+ (96 mm) and D- (84 mm) in one fallow period.

During the fallow period, B+ and Z+ generally resulted in higher plant available water than other treatments at mean values of 50–100 mm. However, these effects were not present at higher plant available water levels (mean of 128–164 mm), as occurred at the end of six fallow periods. The main treatment effect at the end of the fallow was for significantly (P<0.05) lower plant available water in Z-.     

Tillage and drainage impact on soil quality: I. Aggregate stability, carbon and nitrogen pools

Effects of two tillage treatments, tillage (T) with chisel plough and no-till (NT), were studied under un-drained and drained soil conditions. Soil physical properties measured were bulk density (ρ_b), total porosity (ƒ_t), water stable aggregates (WSA), geometric mean diameter (GMD), mean weight diameter (MWD), organic carbon (OC) and total N concentrations in different aggregate size fractions, and total OC and N pools. The experiment was established in 1994 on a poorly drained Crosby silt loam soil (fine mixed, mesic, Aeric Ochraqualf) near Columbus, Ohio. In 2007, soil samples were collected (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) from all treatments and separated into six aggregate size classes for assessing proportions of macro (5–8, 2–5, 1–2, 0.5–1, 0.25–0.5) and micro (<0.25 mm) aggregates by wet sieving. Tillage treatments significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced WSA, MWD, and GMD. Higher total WSA (78.53 vs. 58.27%), GMD (0.99 vs. 0.68 mm), and MWD (2.23 vs. 0.99 mm) were observed for 0–10 cm depth for NT than T treatments. Relative proportion of macro-aggregates (>0.25-mm) was also more in NT than T treatment for un-drained plots. Conversely, micro-aggregates (<0.25-mm) were more in T plots for both drained and un-drained treatments. The WSA, MWD and GMD decreased with increase in soil depth. The OC concentration was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in NT for un-drained (P ≤ 0.01) treatment for all soil depths. Within macro-aggregates, the maximum OC concentrations of 1.91 and 1.75 g kg⁻¹ in 1–2 mm size fraction were observed in NT for un-drained and drained treatments, respectively. Tillage treatments significantly (P < 0.01) affected bulk density (ρ_b), and total porosity (f_t) for all soil depths, whereas tillage × drainage interaction was significant (P < 0.01) for 10–20 and 20–30 cm depths. Soil ρ_b was negatively correlated (r = −0.47; n = 12) with OC concentration. Tillage treatments significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05) OC pools at 10–20 cm depth; whereas drainage, and tillage × drainage significantly (P ≤ 0.05) influenced OC pools for 0–10 cm soil layer. The OC pool in 0–10 cm layer was 31.8 Mg ha⁻¹ for NT compared with 25.9 Mg kg⁻¹ for T for un-drained treatment. In comparison, the OC pool was 23.1 Mg ha⁻¹ for NT compared with 25.2 Mg ha⁻¹ for T for the drained plots. In general, the OC pool was higher in NT system, coupled with un-drained treatment than in drained T plots. The data indicate the importance of NT in improving the OC pool.     

Tillage, mulch and irrigation effects on corn (Zea mays L.) in relation to evaporative demand

The effects of deep tillage, straw mulching, and irrigation on corn (Zea mays L.) yield on a loamy sand (mixed, hyperthermic, Typic Ustipsamment) were studied for early (high evaporativity) and normally sown (relatively low evaporativity) crop for 3 years in a semi-arid sub-tropical monsoon region at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India. Treatments included all combinations of two tillage systems (conventional tillage — harrowing the soil to a 10-cm depth; deep tillage — chiselling 40 cm deep, 35–40 cm apart), two irrigation regimes (75 mm irrigation when net open pan evaporation accumulated to 75 mm or 50 mm), and two straw mulch rates (0 and 6 Mg ha⁻¹).

Deep tillage significantly reduced soil strength (cone index) and caused deeper and denser rooting than conventional tillage, more so in the dry season and with the infrequent irrigation regime than in the wet season and frequent irrigation regime. Mulch also improved rooting by influencing the hydrothermal regime of the soil. Better rooting with deep tillage and/or mulch helped the crop to extract stored soil water more efficiently, which was reflected in a favourable plant water status (indicated by canopy temperature). Averaged across years, irrigation, and mulch, deep tillage increased grain yield by 1.6 Mg ha⁻¹ for the early season and 0.5 Mg ha⁻¹ for the normal season crop over the yield of 2.0 Mg ha⁻¹ achieved with conventional tillage regardless of season. Yield increase with mulching was also greater for the early season crop. Crop response to deep tillage and mulching was generally linked to the interplay between water supply (rain + irrigation) and demand (seasonal evaporativity) during the growing season. Increasing irrigation frequency increased crop yield when evaporativity exceeded rainfall early in the growing season. The results show that higher corn yields on coarse-textured soils in these regions may be achieved by advancing the seeding time and by using a proper combination of deep tillage, mulch, and irrigation.     

Tillage and crop management effects on soil erosion in central Croatia

Soil erosion continues to be a primary cause for soil degradation and the loss of soil quality throughout the world. Our objectives were to quantify soil erosion (referred to as erosional drift) and to assign erosion risk to six tillage and crop management treatments evaluated from 1995 to 1999 for a 5-year maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine hyspida L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oil-seed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera L.), and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plus double-crop soybean rotation on Stagnic Luvisols in central Croatia. Standard black fallow (tilled, unsown, and without any vegetative cover) Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) plots were used to establish the erosion potential associated with the rainfall pattern for each year. Soil loss from the check plots was several times greater than the T value, which is estimated to be 10 t ha⁻¹ per year. During the 2 years when spring seeded maize or soybean were grown (1995 and 1996) erosion risk was extremely high, especially for treatments where tillage and planting (row direction) were up and down the slope. When autumn seeded winter wheat or oil-seed rape were grown (1996/1997 or 1997/1998), soil erosion was insignificant. Also, except when plowing and sowing were up and down slope, erosion loss for the spring barley plus double-crop soybean crops in 1999 was insignificant. With no-tillage, soil erosion from the maize and soybean crops was reduced 40 and 65% compared to plowing up and down slope, even though the planting direction was still up and down the slope. With the exception of maize in 1995, erosion losses were moderate to insignificant when plowing and planting were performed across the slope. We conclude that erosion risk can be used as a reliable indicator of sustainable land management and that using no-tillage or plowing and planting perpendicular to the predominant slope are effective soil conservation practices for this region.