Effect of organic and inorganic soil nitrogen amendments on mouldboard plow draft

A long-term field experiment with continuous corn, corn–soybean, and corn–alfalfa rotations, and different organic and inorganic soil nitrogen amendments was established at Ottawa, Ont., in 1991. Amendments applied to continuous corn were none, inorganic fertilizer at 100 and 200 kg N ha^?1, stockpiled and rotted manure, each at 50 and 100 Mg ha^?1 (wet weight). Amendments applied in the corn year to the 2-year rotations were none, inorganic fertilizer at 100 kg N ha^?1, and stockpiled and rotted manure at 50 Mg ha^?1. Mouldboard plow draft and tractor fuel consumption measurements were made with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s instrumented research tractor in conjunction with normal fall tillage in 1991 prior to amendment application, and for 4 years from 1996 to 1999.

Results showed a small difference among the amendment treatments in 1996 and 1997, and a much larger difference in 1998 and 1999. After 8 years of amendment application, plots receiving the manure amendments at the high rates exhibited from 27 to 38% lower plow draft and 13 to 18% lower tractor fuel consumption than those receiving the inorganic fertilizer. The difference was less for plots receiving the lower manure rates. The same trend occurred in the 2-year rotation plots where manures were applied in alternate years, although, the differences were much lower, and not always significant. The data clearly show that changes in soil structure and organic matter accompanying repeated applications of manure are manifested in reduced tillage energy.