Water and bromide movement in a Vertosol under four fallow management systems

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Turpin ◽  
J. P. Thompson ◽  
B. J. Bridge ◽  
D. Orange
Keyword(s):  
Water Movement ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Fallow Management ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
Tracer Solution ◽  
Stubble Burning

Recent work on the Hermitage long-term fallow management found increased rates of anion movement under zero tillage systems compared with conventional tillage. Four separate experiments have been used to determine relative rates of water movement through different fallow management treatments on the Hermitage long-term fallow management trial and the causes of any differences. Photography of the aggregation patterns at the depth of tillage (approx. 15 cm) showed that conventional tillage combined with stubble burning has led to the formation of large massive peds up to 20 cm across below the tillage layer, whereas zero-tillage with stubble retention has maintained much smaller aggregates in this zone. Measurements of hydraulic conductivity at 15 cm under both dry and moist conditions indicated that, when the soil is dry and cracked, all tillage treatments have similar conductivities, but when the soil swells and cracks close, zero tillage–stubble retention maintains a greater volume of large pores and thereby greater conductivity. This effect was further demonstrated when a bromide tracer solution was applied to a relatively wet soil by ring infiltrometer, where only 15% of the solution moved below 15 cm in conventional tillage–stubble burning compared with 26% and 38% in zero tillage{stubble retention. In the final experiment, which followed the movement of surface applied bromide over a 6-month fallow, there were no significant differences in rates of leaching between management treatments.

scholarly journals Nitrification potential, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass in an argiudol soil cultivated with wheat under two tillering methods

2003 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Diosma ◽  
S.I. Golik ◽  
H.O. Chidichimo ◽  
P.A. Balatti
Keyword(s):  
Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Total N ◽  
Soil N Mineralization ◽  
Conventional Management

The purpose of this work was to analyze the dynamics of soil biomass and its activity in a soil fertilized with N andcultivated under conventional or zero tillage systems. The soil under conventional tillage had larger biomass than underzero tillage but, in this latter condition, it was further increased by the N-fertilization. Dehydrogenase activity inthe soil was identical under both management systems suggesting similar levels of activity. In addition, fertilizationdid not modify the nitrogen mineralization capacity of the soil. Only the addition of calcareous NH4NO3, a fertilizerthat releases nitrogen much faster than urea, resulted in the immobilization of nitrogen during wheat tillering, whereasurea did not alter soil N mineralization. The lack of a significant biomass response to tilling practices was reflectedby the wheat biomass and grain yield, that was the same under both tilling systems. Only the total N content of wheatwas higher under zero tillage than under conventional management, although this did not result in an increment ingrain yield.

Nitrate and chloride leaching in Vertosols for different tillage and stubble practices in fallow - grain cropping

Soil Research ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Turpin ◽  
J. P. Thompson ◽  
S. A. Waring ◽  
J. MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Root Zone ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Winter Cereal ◽  
Trial Site ◽  
Fallow Management ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Solute Movement ◽  
On Farm ◽  
Stubble Burning

Research conducted in the mid 1980s on a ‘long-term fallow management trial’, located on a black Vertosol at the Hermitage Research Station, indicated that leaching may have been the cause of low concentrations of nitrate-N within the root-zone of zero-tillage stubble-retained treatments. The ‘fallow management trial’ has 12 management treatments: a factorial combination of zero or conventional tillage×stubble retention or burning×3 nitrogen fertiliser rates (0, 23, and 69 kg N/ha). To test the leaching hypothesis, all trial treatments were analysed for nitrate and chloride concentrations to a depth of 5·4 m in order to assess the relative rates of drainage, solute movement, and nitrate leaching between treatments. Similar analyses were conducted on 2 cultivated sites and 2 permanently grassed sites on-farm, also on black Vertosols, to compare solute movement rates under the continuous winter cereal rotation (trial site) with a winter–summer cropping regime and permanent pasture. Results from the Hermitage trial site showed zero tillage with stubble retention had a chloride concentration peak 2 m deeper down the profile (4·5 m) than all other management treatments, indicating that drainage rates were greatest in zero tillage–stubble retained treatments. Nitrate profiles, however, showed that movement of nitrate-N to below the root-zone was greatest under zero tillage with stubble burning with 69 kg N/ha applied (Z-B 69N), followed by zero tillage with stubble retention and 69 kg N/ha. The large nitrate loss from the root-zone of Z-B 69N (about 30% of applied fertiliser) was considered to be a result of high concentrations of nitrate-N in the top 1·5 m associated with stubble burning and fertilisation. The on-farm cultivated sites had very little nitrate-N throughout the whole profile, suggesting that either the use of summer as well as winter crops reduced residual or ‘spared’ nitrate-N (through control of root-lesion nematodes) and/or mineralisation rates were lower on these sites.

Soil microbial biomass and diversity respond to tillage and sulphur fertilizers

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 577-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
M. A. Monreal ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
C. A. Grant ◽  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Soil Microbial

There is little information on the effects of S management strategies on soil microorganisms under zero tillage systems o n the North American Prairies. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of tillage and source and placement of S on soil microbial biomass (substrate induced respiration) and functional diversity (substrate utilization patterns) in a canola-wheat rotation under conventional and zero tillage systems at three sites in Gray Luvisolic and Black Chernozemic soils. Conventional tillage significantly reduced microbial biomass and diversity on an acidic and C-poor Luvisolic soil, but it had mostly no significant effects on the near-neutral, C-rich Luvisolic and Chernozemic soils, which underlines the importance of soil C in maintaining a healthy soil. Sulphur had no significant effects on soil microbial biomass, and its effects on microbial diversity were more frequent on the near-neutral Luvisol, which was more S-deficient, than on the acidic Luvisol or the Chernozem. Significant S effects on microbial diversity were observed both in the bulk soil (negative effects, compared with the control) and rhizosphere (positive effects) of the acidic Luvisol, but all significant effects (positive) were observed in root rhizospheres in the other soils. Sulphur by tillage interactions on acidic Luvisolic soil indicated that the negative effects of S in bulk soil occurred mostly under zero tillage, presumably because the fertilizer is concentrated in a smaller volume of soil than under conventional tillage. Sulphate S effects, either negative or positive, on microbial diversity were usually greater than elemental S effects. Therefore, S application can have direct, deleterious effects on soil microorganisms or indirect, beneficial effects through crop growth, the latter presumably due to increased root exudation in the rhizosphere of healthy crops. Key Words: Biolog, conservation tillage, microbial biodiversity, rhizosphere, soil biological quality, S fertilizer type and placement

scholarly journals Effect of Tillage, Residue Management and Cropping System on the Properties of Soil

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibek Thapa ◽  
Keshab Raj Pande ◽  
Baburam Khanal ◽  
Santosh Marahatta
Keyword(s):  
Cropping System ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Residue Removal ◽  
Main Plot ◽  
Residue Retention

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage practices, residue management and cropping system on soil properties at NMRP, Rampur, Chitwan from November 2015 to April 2016. The experiment was laid on Strip split design with combination of 12 different treatments i.e, zero tillage & conventional tillage as main plot in the strip, residue retention & residue removal as sub-plot factor and maize – wheat, maize + soybean – wheat & soybean – wheat cropping system as sub-sub plot factor. Three replications of the treatments were made. Soil sample before experiment and after harvest of wheat was taken (0-15cm). The experiment showed significant effect of zero tillage on organic carbon (2.169%) and on total soil nitrogen (0.112 %). Zero tillage with retention of residues is valuable tool for the conservation agriculture and helps in sustainability of soil however long-term research for the tillage management and residue retention should be conducted to highlight the major effects on change in properties of soil.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(2): 164-168 

CROP UTILIZATION OF PLACED AND BROADCAST 15N-UREA FERTILIZER UNDER ZERO AND CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. CARTER ◽  
D. A. RENNIE
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
N Application ◽  
Total N

Growth chamber and field studies were conducted to assess the relative utilization of placed and broadcast 15N-urea by spring wheat. The field studies were conducted on zero and conventional (shallow) tillage systems, of 4-yr duration, located on Chernozemic soils at two locations in Saskatchewan. Placement below the seeding depth in comparison to broadcast application, generally reduced fertilizer N immobilization and increased fertilizer N uptake, recovery, and efficiency. Under moisture stress, placed applications were effective in enhancing dry matter yield and total N uptake. It is concluded that fertilizer N placement for these two contrasting tillage systems should be identical, thus some soil disturbance under zero tillage may be necessary to achieve optimum crop use of applied fertilizer N. The dominant N transformation processes and possible tillage induced differences, in regard to methods of N application, are discussed. Key words: Placed and broadcast N application, N efficiency, N utilization, 15N-urea, zero tillage, soil moisture

Secondary seed dormancy prolongs persistence of volunteer canola in western Canada

Weed Science ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 904-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Gulden ◽  
Steven J. Shirtliffe ◽  
A. Gordon Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Seed Dormancy ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Seedling Emergence ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Spring Canola ◽  
Typical Summer ◽  
Different Soils

In western Canada, little is known about the seedbank ecology of volunteer canola. Therefore, integrated recommendations for the management of this weed are limited. In this study, we investigated the seedbank persistence and seedling recruitment of two spring canola genotype groups with different secondary seed dormancy potentials under contrasting tillage systems. The study was conducted at two locations with different soils in the Mixed Moist Grassland ecoregion of Saskatchewan. A single cohort seedbank was established in 1999 and was followed for 3 yr in successive wheat crops. In a separate laboratory study, the six canola genotypes examined were classified as those with high and those with medium potentials for the development of secondary seed dormancy (HD and MD, respectively). After one, two, and three winters, maximum persistence of 44, 1.4, and 0.2% of the original seedbank was observed among the treatments, respectively. In 2001, HD canola genotypes tended to exhibit 6- to 12-fold greater persistence than MD canola genotypes, indicating lower seedbank mortality in HD canola. Seedling recruitment of HD canola also was higher than MD canola when differences were observed between these genotype groups. Therefore, long-term seedbank persistence of canola can be reduced by growing genotypes with low inherent potential for the development of secondary seed dormancy. The proportion of persisting seeds tended to be higher under conventional tillage than under zero tillage because of lower seedbank mortality, but no clear distinction in seedbank persistence in terms of absolute time could be made between these two tillage systems. Volunteer canola seedling recruitment followed the pattern of a typical summer-annual weed, where seedling emergence was observed only during May and June.

Determinants of annual fluxes of CO2 and N2O in long-term no-tillage and conventional tillage systems in northern France

2007 ◽  
Vol 95 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 133-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrien Oorts ◽  
Roel Merckx ◽  
Eric Gréhan ◽  
Jérôme Labreuche ◽  
Bernard Nicolardot
Keyword(s):  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Northern France

Tillage and crop rotations enhance populations of earthworms, termites, dung beetles and centipedes: evidence from a long-term trial in Zambia

2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (6) ◽  
pp. 504-514
Author(s):  
T. Muoni ◽  
B. Mhlanga ◽  
J. Forkman ◽  
M. Sitali ◽  
C. Thierfelder
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Term Trial

AbstractMacro-organisms contribute significantly to soil fertility improvement. The influence of conservation agriculture (CA) in southern Africa on their populations has not yet been fully understood. Thus, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of CA and conventional tillage on below ground biological activity in a CA long-term trial in Monze, Zambia from 2011 to 2013. The study had ten treatments which differed by tillage systems (conventional ploughing, planting basins and direct seeding) and crop diversification intensity (sole cropping, 2- or 3-year crop rotations) involving maize, cotton and sunn hemp. These factors were combined to create rotation-tillage (RotTill) treatments. Sampling of macrofauna was done once per year using a metal frame measuring 0.25 m2, hand-sorted to 30-cm depth. RotTill treatments had a significant effect on earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris), termites (Coptotermes formosanus), dung beetles (Scarabaeus viettei) and centipedes (Lithobius forficatus). Earthworms and termites were more abundant in CA treatments than in conventionally ploughed (CP) treatments. Biota diversity was generally higher in CA treatments than in CP controls. Conventional mouldboard ploughing generally reduced macrofauna, thus affecting biological soil fertility and the beneficial effect of the interactions of these organisms with the soil. CA treatments had the highest maize grain yields throughout the study period. Based on the results, reduced tillage systems and crop rotations increase biological activity shown by increased densities of termites and earthworms.

Long term trends in total nitrogen of a vertisol subjected to zero-tillage, nitrogen application and stubble retention

Soil Research ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 223 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Dalal
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Stubble Retention ◽  
Long Term Trends ◽  
Apparent N Recovery

The effects of conservation practices, zero-tillage and stubble retention, on long-term trends in total N (0-0.1 m depth) of a Vertisol used mainly for wheat cropping were studied in a semi-arid subtropical environment (28�12'S. and 152�06' E.) in Queensland. Trends in total N content of a Vertisoi (65% clay, pH 7.2) were discerned during a 22-year period of management practices including: zero-tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT); stubble retention (SR) and stubble burning (SB); and fertilizer N application of nil (Nl), 23 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (N2) and 69 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (N3). Soil total N (0-0.1 m) declined under all treatments at an overall rate of 25f 2 kg N ha-1 yr-1 although after 22 years soil under ZT, SR and N3 treatments still contained higher soil total N than under CT, SB and N1 treatments. Apparent fertilizer N recovery in the soil-plant system was poor (34 64%) under CTSB, CTSR and ZTSB and ZTSR treatments, because N removed by the wheat crop was equivalent to less than 20% of fertilizer N in the first 12 years of management practices, due mainly to disease. Deep leaching losses of NO3-N was the likely factor for poor recovery of N. The ZTSR treatment showed better apparent N recovery than the CTSB treatment, most likely due to greater immobilization of fertilizer N, more N uptake in grain due to additional available soil water and hence less leaching losses of NO3-N. Under the current cultural practices, soil total N (0-0.1 m) may decline further to reach a steady state (about 1000 kg N ha-1). However, the apparent N recovery in the soil-plant system can be increased by disease control (for example, resistant cultivars and winter-summer crop rotations) and optimum utilisation of soil water (opportunity cropping) to minimize NO3-N leaching losses and to maximise production of crop biomass.

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