Ant Community in Neotropical Agrosystems: A Four-Year Study in Conventional and No-Tillage Systems

Studies comparing agricultural practices that maintain a better quality and a healthy soil fauna consider the no-tillage farming as the most effective practice when compared to other planting techniques. In order to evaluate the influence of the no-tillage and conventional tillage methods (with and without manipulation of the soil before planting, respectively) on ant communities, we monitored two areas with these two types of practice (conventional and no-tillage) over the period of four years. We collected ants once per month along 10 transects randomly distributed using three pitfall traps in each area. In addition, we collected the dead plant biomass present at each point sampled as a parameter for measuring the environmental complexity of the areas. In total, we captured 27,480 individuals belonging to 26 species in the no-tillage area and 24,570 individuals belonging to 24 species in the conventional tillage area. The generalised linear model analysis showed that the no-tillage system had the highest abundance of individuals, as well as richness and diversity of species, during most of the study period, as compared to conventional tillage areas. We also found a significant positive correlation between species richness and dead plant biomass. Thus, it is possible to infer that the no-tillage area is a more complex environment with a greater diversity of ants and, therefore, a more sustainable agrosystem as compared to conventional tillage areas.

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No-Tillage Agriculture

Science ◽

10.1126/science.208.4448.1108 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 208 (4448) ◽

pp. 1108-1113 ◽

Cited By ~ 259

Author(s):

Ronald E. Phillips ◽

Grant W. Thomas ◽

Robert L. Blevins ◽

Wilbur W. Frye ◽

Shirley H. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Land ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Cropping System ◽

The United States ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Tillage System ◽

Year 2000

The no-tillage cropping system, a combination of ancient and modern agricultural practices, has been rapidly increasing in use. By the year 2000, as much as 65 percent of the acreage of crops grown in the United States may be grown by the no-tillage practice. Soil erosion, the major source of pollutants in rural streams, is virtually eliminated when no-tillage agriculture is practiced. The no-tillage system reduces the energy input into corn and soybean production by 7 and 18 percent, respectively, when compared to the conventional tillage system of moldboard plowing followed by disking. In addition, crop yields are as high as or higher than those obtained with traditional tillage practices on large areas of agricultural land.

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Intercepted solar radiation by maize crops subjected to different tillage systems and water availability levels

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2010001200001 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (12) ◽

pp. 1331-1341 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Homero Bergamaschi ◽

Genei Antonio Dalmago ◽

João Ito Bergonci ◽

Cleusa Adriane Menegassi Bianchi Krüger ◽

Bruna Maria Machado Heckler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Radiation ◽

Leaf Area Index ◽

Extinction Coefficient ◽

Water Availability ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Tillage Systems ◽

Area Index ◽

Tillage System ◽

Crop Cycle

The objective of this work was to evaluate changes in the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) interception efficiency and PPFD extinction coefficient for maize crop subjected to different soil tillage systems and water availability levels. Crops were subjected to no-tillage and conventional tillage systems combined with full irrigation and non-irrigation treatments. Continuous measurements of transmitted PPFD on the soil surface and incoming PPFD over the canopy were taken throughout the crop cycle. Leaf area index and soil water potential were also measured during the whole period. Considering a mean value over the maize cycle, intercepted PPFD was higher in the conventional tillage than in the no-tillage system. During the initial stages of plants, intercepted PPFD in the conventional tillage was double the PPFD interception in the no-tillage treatment. However, those differences were reduced up to the maximum leaf area index, close to tasseling stage. The lowest interception of PPFD occurred in the conventional tillage during the reproductive period, as leaf senescence progressed. Over the entire crop cycle, the interception of PPFD by the non-irrigated plants was about 20% lower than by the irrigated plants. The no-tillage system reduced the extinction coefficient for PPFD, which may have allowed a higher penetration of solar radiation into the canopy

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Effect of no tillage on the physico-chemical properties of soils of the El Koudia region, Rabat (Morocco)

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202015003010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 150 ◽

pp. 03010

Author(s):

Hassnae Maher ◽

Rachid Moussadek ◽

Abdelmjid Zouahri ◽

Ahmed Douaik ◽

Houria Dakak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Structural Stability ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Physico Chemical ◽

Chemical Properties Of Soils

In Morocco, agriculture is an important sector of the economy, accounting for 15 to 20% of Gross Domestic Product. However, it has faced several challenges: intensive tillage of land that has accelerated water erosion, seriously threatening water and soil potential, low plant cover density and misuse of traditional agricultural practices, causing a decrease in organic matter levels and destroying aggregate stability. Climate change is making water and soil management in agriculture more and more complicated. The major challenge for Moroccan agriculture is to increase agricultural production while preserving natural resources. The objective of our study is to evaluate the effect of no tillage (NT) on the physico- chemical properties of soil in the El Koudia experimental station, Rabat, Morocco. The crop is durum wheat, Arrehane variety. Soil samples are pre-dried, ground and screened to 0.2mm for organic matter (OM) analysis and 2mm for the remainder of the analyses. Plugs, canned, are then sintered, screened and dried for structural stability tests. The results show that no tillage (NT) favours the accumulation of surface OM, particularly at the 0-5cm horizon unlike conventional tillage (CT). The NT promotes structural stability, with a mean weight diameter (MWD) = 0.94mm for the NT compared to 0.83mm for the CT. These results show that soils ploughed in CT are more exposed to erosion degradation than soils not ploughed (NT). In addition, NT preserves soil moisture and promotes additional water retention of 5 to 10%.

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Effect of tillage system on soil temperature in a rainfed Mediterranean Vertisol

International Agrophysics ◽

10.1515/intag-2015-0052 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 467-473 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Veronica Muñoz-Romero ◽

Luis Lopez-Bellido ◽

Rafael J. Lopez-Bellido

Keyword(s):

Soil Temperature ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Critical Periods ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Grain Formation ◽

Tillage System ◽

Lower Temperature ◽

Experimental Treatments ◽

Sowing Period

Abstract Soil temperature is a factor that influences the rates of physical, chemical, and biological reactions in soils and has a strong influence on plant growth. A field study was conducted during 2006-2007 and 2009-2010 on a typical rainfed Mediterranean Vertisol to determine the effects of the tillage system and the crop on soil temperature. The experimental treatments were the tillage system (no-tillage and conventional tillage) and the crop (wheat and faba bean). Soil temperature was measured at a 20 cm depth at 1 h intervals from December 1st to November 30th of 2006-2007 and 2009-2010. There was a highly significant relationship between air temperature (both maximum and minimum) and soil temperature for the two tillage systems. Soil temperature was similar in the growing season for both crops but was higher in the conventional tillage than in the no-tillage system, with differences between 0.7 and 2.6°C depending on the month of the year. A higher soil temperature with conventional tillage can be beneficial in the cold sowing period (November-December), improving crop establishment. In contrast, in critical periods with water deficits (spring) during which grain formation occurs, the lower temperature corresponding to the no-tillage system would be more favourable.

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Weed seedbank response to crop rotation and tillage in semiarid agroecosystems

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500090676 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 67-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 64

Author(s):

J. Dorado ◽

J. P. Del Monte ◽

C. López-Fando

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

No Tillage ◽

Tillage Systems ◽

Mouse Ear ◽

Tillage System ◽

Number Of Seeds

In a semiarid Mediterranean site in central Spain, field experiments were conducted on a Calcic Haploxeralf (noncalcic brown soil), which had been managed with three crop rotations and two tillage systems (no-tillage and conventional tillage) since 1987. The crop rotations consisted of barley→vetch, barley→sunflower, and a barley monoculture. The study took place in two growing seasons (1992–1994) to assess the effects of management practices on the weed seedbank. During this period, spring weed control was not carried out in winter crops. In the no-tillage system, there was a significant increase in the number of seeds of different weed species: anacyclus, common purslane, corn poppy, knotted hedge-parsley, mouse-ear cress, spring whitlowgrass, tumble pigweed, venus-comb, andVeronica triphyllos.Conversely, the presence of prostrate knotweed and wild radish was highest in plots under conventional tillage. These results suggest large differences in the weed seedbank as a consequence of different soil conditions among tillage systems, but also the necessity of spring weed control when a no-tillage system is used. With regard to crop rotations, the number of seeds of knotted hedge-parsley, mouse-ear cress, and spring whitlowgrass was greater in the plots under the barley→vetch rotation. Common lambsquarters dominated in the plots under the barley→sunflower rotation, whereas venus-comb was the most frequent weed in the barley monoculture. Larger and more diverse weed populations developed in the barley→vetch rotation rather than in the barley→sunflower rotation or the barley monoculture.

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Evolution of some components of agroecosystems productivity from Vinga Plain in water stress situations

Acta Agraria Debreceniensis ◽

10.34101/actaagrar/i/8398 ◽

2010 ◽

pp. 174-179

Author(s):

Daniel Dicu ◽

Iacob Borza ◽

Dorin Tarau

Keyword(s):

Conventional Tillage ◽

System Level ◽

Water Volume ◽

Agricultural System ◽

No Tillage ◽

No Till ◽

Tillage System ◽

On Line ◽

New Interactions ◽

The Impact

The researches are inscribed on line of substantiation of durable agricultural system, having main objective the prominence ofquantitative and qualitative modifications made on agro-system level under the effect of no-tillage system for wheat, maize and soybeans.The experimental field is placed on a cambium chernozem, with a medium content of clay, dominant in the Prodagro West Arad agrocentreand representative for a large surface in the Banat-Crisana Plain.The passing to no-till system change the structure of technological elements, through less soil works, so the impact on agro-system isdifferent comparing with conventional tillage, first less the intervention pressure on agro-system ant secondly appears new interactions, newequilibriums and disequilibriums.Considering the evolution of soil humidity, the observations made monthly (by taking soil samples and laboratory determinations) forthe three cultures showed that in the no-till system, there are more uniform values in the soil profile, and in the variants where the deep workof soil was made it could be observed a low increase of the water volume in the soil.

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Soil macrofauna associated with cover crops in an Oxisol from the southwest of Piauí state, Brazil

Arquivos do Instituto Biológico ◽

10.1590/1808-1657000822018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 ◽

Author(s):

Djavan Pinheiro Santos ◽

Robélio Leandro Marchão ◽

Ronny Sobreira Barbosa ◽

Juvenal Pereira da Silva Junior ◽

Everaldo Moreira da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Soil Management ◽

Soil Classification ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Grass Species ◽

No Tillage ◽

Soil Macrofauna ◽

Tillage System ◽

Sole Cropping

ABSTRACT: The soil macrofauna is fundamental for the maintenance of soil quality. The aim of this study was to characterize the soil macrofauna under different species of cover crops, including monoculture or intercropping associated to two types of soil management in the southwest region of Piauí state. The study was carried out in an Oxisol (Latossolo Amarelo, according to Brazilian Soil Classification System) in the municipality of Bom Jesus, Piauí, distributed in 30 m2 plots. Testing and evaluation of the soil macrofauna were conducted in a 9 × 2 strip factorial design, with combinations between cover crops/consortia and soil management (with or without tillage), with four replications. Soil monoliths (0.25 × 0.25 m) were randomly sampled in each plot for macrofauna at 0‒0.1, 0.1‒0.2, and 0.2‒0.3 m depth, including surface litter. After identification and counting of soil organims, the relative density of each taxon in each depth was determined. The total abundance of soil macrofauna quantified under cover crops in the conventional and no-tillage system was 2,408 ind. m-2, distributed in 6 classes, 16 orders, and 31 families. The results of multivariate analysis show that grass species in sole cropping systems and no-tillage presents higher macrofauna density, in particular the taxonomic group Isoptera. No-tillage also provided higher richness of families, where Coleoptera adult were the second more abundant group in no-tillage and Hemiptera in conventional tillage.

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Weed control and grain yield in double-cropped soybean

Pesticidi i fitomedicina ◽

10.2298/pif0802107s ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 107-114

Author(s):

Milena Simic ◽

Nebojsa Momirovic ◽

Zeljko Dolijanovic ◽

Zeljko Radosevic

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Weed Control ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Row Spacing ◽

No Tillage ◽

Correlation Data ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Tillage System ◽

Loam Soil

The effects of different herbicide combinations: control (1), alachlor+linuron (2), and alachlor+linuron+imazethapyr (3) were investigated in double-cropped soybean grown in two row spacing variants, 38 cm and 76 cm, under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT). In trials conducted on a sandy loam soil at Zemun Polje, high weediness had a negative effect of on the yield of double-cropped soybean, especially at the higher row spacing tested and with no-tillage. Regression and correlation data revealed a dependence of weediness in double-cropped soybean on tillage system and herbicide combination, and dependence of soybean yield on tillage system.

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Weed infestations of winter wheat depend on the forecrop and the tillage system

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.1744 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 71 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Dorota Gawęda ◽

Andrzej Woźniak ◽

Elżbieta Harasim

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

No Tillage ◽

Weed Species ◽

Tillage System ◽

Winter Rapeseed

In-crop weed infestation is affected by both habitat conditions and agronomic practices, including the forecrop and tillage treatments used. This study evaluated the effect of the forecrop and the tillage system on species composition, number and dry weight of weeds in a winter wheat ‘Astoria’. A field study was carried out over the period 2014–2017 at the Uhrusk Experimental Farm (SE Poland), on a mixed rendzina soil with a grain-size distribution of sandy loam. Wheat was grown in a four-course crop rotation: soybean – winter wheat – rapeseed – winter wheat. The experimental factors were as follows: a forecrop of winter wheat (soybean and winter rapeseed) and a tillage system (ploughing and no-tillage). Avena fatua was the most frequently occurring weed in the wheat crop sown after soybean, whereas after winter rapeseed it was Viola arvensis. Viola arvensis was the dominant weed under both tillage systems. In all experimental treatments, the species Viola arvensis and Cirsium arvense were characterized by the highest constancy (Constancy Class V and IV), and also Veronica arvensis after the previous winter rapeseed crop. In the wheat crop sown after winter rapeseed, the number of weeds was found to be higher by 62.1% and the weed dry weight higher by 27.3% compared to these parameters after the previous soybean crop. A richer floristic composition of weeds was also observed in the stand after winter rapeseed. Under conventional tillage conditions, compared to no-tillage, the number of weeds was found to be lower by 39.7% and their dry weight by 50.0%. An increase in the numbers of the dominant weed species was also noted in the untilled plots.

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Share of anthropophytes in the crop sequence: winter wheat – maize – spring wheat depending on tillage system

Acta Agrobotanica ◽

10.5586/aa.2014.016 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 117-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tomasz R. Sekutowski ◽

Janusz Smagacz

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Spring Wheat ◽

Chenopodium Album ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Crop Plant ◽

Wheat Crop ◽

No Tillage ◽

Tillage System ◽

Main Component ◽

Anthemis Arvensis

An experiment, conducted over the period 2008–2010, evaluated the effect of tillage system on the occurrence and species composition of anthropophytes in winter wheat, maize and spring wheat. Regardless of crop plant and tillage system, anthropophytes (73.9%), represented by archaeophytes and kenophytes, were the main component of the flora in the crops studied, whereas apophytes accounted for the remaining 26.1%. Most archaeophytes (13 species) were found in the spring wheat crop under no-tillage, while their lowest number (6 species) occurred in the spring wheat crop under conventional tillage. The only kenophyte, Conyza canadensis, was found to occur in the spring wheat and maize crops in the no-tillage system. The following taxa were dominant species among archeophytes: Geranium pusillum, Anthemis arvensis, and Viola arvensis (regardless of tillage system and crop plant), Anthemis arvensis (in spring wheat – conventional tillage), Echinochloa crus-galli and Setaria glauca (in maize – reduced tillage and no-tillage), Chenopodium album (in maize – no-tillage) as well as Apera spica-venti, Anthemis arvensis and Papaver rhoeas (in winter wheat – no-tillage).

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