scholarly journals Soil Aggregation, Organic Carbon Concentration, and Soil Bulk Density As Affected by Cover Crop Species in a No-Tillage System

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 871-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Stephan Nascente ◽  
Yuncong Li ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol

Soil aggregation and the distribution of total organic carbon (TOC) may be affected by soil tillage and cover crops. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of crop rotation with cover crops on soil aggregation, TOC concentration in the soil aggregate fractions, and soil bulk density under a no-tillage system (NTS) and conventional tillage system (CTS, one plowing and two disking). This was a three-year study with cover crop/rice/cover crop/rice rotations in the Brazilian Cerrado. A randomized block experimental design with six treatments and three replications was used. The cover crops (treatments) were: fallow, Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha, and millet (Pennisetum glaucum). An additional treatment, fallow plus CTS, was included as a control. Soil samples were collected at the depths of 0.00-0.05 m, 0.05-0.10 m, and 0.10-0.20 m after the second rice harvest. The treatments under the NTS led to greater stability in the soil aggregates (ranging from 86.33 to 95.37 %) than fallow plus CTS (ranging from 74.62 to 85.94 %). Fallow plus CTS showed the highest number of aggregates smaller than 2 mm. The cover crops affected soil bulk density differently, and the millet treatment in the NTS had the lowest values. The cover crops without incorporation provided the greatest accumulation of TOC in the soil surface layers. The TOC concentration was positively correlated with the aggregate stability index in all layers and negatively correlated with bulk density in the 0.00-0.10 m layer.

Author(s):  
Renata M. Severiano ◽  
Maria A. P. Pierangeli ◽  
Nilton de S. Santos ◽  
Vinícius Xavier

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of the no-tillage system on soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, and carbon stocks in Plinthic subgroups and Oxisols, located in Pontes and Lacerda, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The treatments were native vegetation and no-tillage systems established for 3, 8, 10, and 12 years. To analyse soil organic carbon, soils were sampled in each area, with three repetitions, at layers of 0-0.05; 0.05-0.10; 0.10-0.20; 0.20-0.40; 0.40-0.60; 0.60-1.00; 1.00-1.50 and 1.50-2.00 m. For soil bulk density, undisturbed samples were collected at layers of 0-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m. Compared with areas of native vegetation, soil bulk density values after 12 years increased by 25% in Oxisols and 30% in the Plinthic subgroups. In Oxisols and Plinthic subgroups, respectively, organic carbon concentration was, on average, 20.57, 25.04 g kg-1 under native vegetation; 16.82, 16.59 g kg-1 after 3 years of no-tillage; 13.31, 4.96 g kg-1 after 8 years; 16.52, 14.39 g kg-1 after 10 years; and 17.97, 18.53 g kg-1 after 12 years. In both soils, the no-tillage system contributed to an increase in carbon stocks over the years, but not at depth, being generally limited to the top 0.20 m of the soils. Compared to native vegetation, after 12 years of no-tillage, carbon stocks decreased at a rate of 0.075 Mg ha-1 year-1 in the Plinthic subgroups and increased by 2.3 Mg ha-1 year-1 in Oxisols.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-2178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiana de Souza Pereira ◽  
Itamar Andrioli ◽  
Amauri Nelson Beutler ◽  
Cinara Xavier de Almeida ◽  
Faber de Souza Pereira

The intensive use of land alters the distribution of the pore size which imparts consequences on the soil physical quality. The Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) allows for the visualization of the effects of management systems upon either the improvement or the degradation of the soil physical quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical quality of a Red Latosol (Oxisol) submited to cover crops in the period prior to the maize crop in a no-tillage and conventional tillage system, using porosity, soil bulk density and the LLWR as attributes. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT) and a no-tillage system with the following cover crops: sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) (NS), pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) (NP) and lablab (Dolichos lablab L.) (NL). The experimental design was randomized blocks in subdivided plots with six replications, with the plots being constituted by the treatments and the subplots by the layers analyzed. The no-tillage systems showed higher total porosity and soil organic matter at the 0-0.5 m layer for the CT. The CT did not differ from the NL or NS in relation to macroporosity. The NP showed the greater porosity, while CT and NS presented lower soil bulk density. No < 10 % airing porosity was found for the treatments evaluated, and value for water content where soil aeration is critical (θPA) was found above estimated water content at field capacity (θFC) for all densities. Critical soil bulk density was of 1.36 and 1.43 Mg m-3 for NP and CT, respectively. The LLWR in the no-tillage systems was limited in the upper part by the θFC, and in the bottom part, by the water content from which soil resistance to penetration is limiting (θPR). By means of LLWR it was observed that the soil presented good physical quality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 518-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cleber Rech ◽  
Jackson Adriano Albuquerque ◽  
Juliano Corulli Corrêa ◽  
Alvaro Luiz Mafra ◽  
Diego Bortolini

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the superficial and injected applications of swine slurry and urea to the soil, regarding their effects on the physical properties of a Nitossolo Vermelho distroférrico under a no-tillage system. The treatments were: injected slurry into the groove with a liquid swine slurry injector (LSSI); slurry on surface, applied on the lines by the LSSI kept raised; urea injected by opening the groove with the LSSI and distributed manually; and corn, under no-tillage, as a control. Sowing and the injection of liquid slurry or urea do not modify the organic carbon content, pH, and aggregation, but alter the soil bulk density and porosity in the mobilized line, and increase the macropores.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 939-946
Author(s):  
P. Oliveira ◽  
A.S. Nascente ◽  
J. Kluthcouski ◽  
T.A.P. Castro

To achieve better results in the no-tillage system (NTS), it is important to properly manage the cover crop prior to planting by using herbicides, usually glyphosate. The effect of glyphosate on plant coverage is slow, and plants take a few days to die completely. Thus, when applying the herbicide on the same day of planting soybean or corn, cover crops are still alive and standing, causing initial shading on seedlings of the crop and delaying its establishment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of distinct cover crops and their timing of desiccation prior to planting soybean or corn, on crop yield and yield components. Two experiments were installed, one for soybean and another for corn. Each experiment consisted in combining three cover crops (Brachiaria brizantha, common bean or millet) chemically desiccated at two timings before planting the crop (15 or 0 days before planting) under no-tillage system (NTS). Experiments were installed in a completely randomized block design with five replications. Brachiaria brizantha produced the highest amount of biomass; common bean and millet as cover crops allowed higher soybean grain yields; herbicide application under common bean, millet and Brachiaria brizantha 15 days before planting soybean allowed higher crop grain yields; desiccation timing of common bean did not affect corn grain yield; Brachiaria brizantha should be desiccated 15 days before planting corn to allow maximum grain yield; when millet was used as a cover crop, glyphosate application at planting of corn allowed the highest grain yield.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 952-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Vizioli ◽  
Karina Maria Vieira Cavalieri-Polizeli ◽  
Gabriel Barth

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) managements on the physical properties of a Haplohumox, and on the yields of corn and of ryegrass cultivated in succession to corn. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and three replicates, in which treatments were the different managements of ryegrass under no-tillage for silage, soil cover, and grazing. After nine years of management, samples were collected at 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30-m soil depths, to determine the following soil properties: texture, total organic carbon, soil bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, and resistance to root penetration. The index of structural stability was estimated from texture and total organic carbon data. Maximum soil bulk density and permanent wilting point were also estimated from pedotransfer functions. Corn and ryegrass dry matter yields were determined from plants harvested inside the plot area. Total organic carbon content increased as depth increased. The ryegrass managements in no-tillage system, in succession to corn, does not influence the soil physical properties of a Haplohumox, and maintains high corn and ryegrass yields.


Revista CERES ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Stephan Nascente ◽  
Luis Fernando Stone ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol

The use of cover crops in no-tillage systems (NTS) can significantly improve the soil's fertility. Thus, a study was performed to evaluate changes in chemical properties of soil caused by cover crops in a no-tillage system. The field experiment consisted of the following crop rotation: cover crops/rice/cover crops/rice. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with three replications. Treatments consisted of four cover crops (Brachiaria brizantha(Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Marandu, Brachiaria ruziziensis R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard, Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Colonião, and Pennisetum glaucum(L.) R. Br. cv. BN-2) and fallow (control treatment). Soil samples were collected at the beginning of the summer crop in Oct 2007, Oct 2008 and Oct 2009 at 0-5 cm soil depth. The use of cover crops provided for a significant increase in the level of nutrients, soil organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation in the soil. Soil fertility improved from the first to second year with the growing of cover crops. The soil under cover crops P. glaucum, B. ruziziensis, and B. brizantha showed higher fertility than the area under fallow.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Jay D. Jabro ◽  
Brett L. Allen ◽  
Tatyana Rand ◽  
Sadikshya R. Dangi ◽  
Joshua W. Campbell

Compacted soils affect global crop productivity and environmental quality. A field study was conducted from 2014 to 2020 in the northern Great Plains, USA, to evaluate the effect of various rooting systems on soil compaction in 2 yr rotations of camelina (Camelina sativa L.), carinata (Brassica carinata A.) and a cover crop mix planted in place of fallow with durum (Triticum durum D.). The study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications in a no-tillage system. The soil was classified as Dooley sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls) derived from glacial till parent material. Three measurements of soil penetration resistance (PR) were taken with a penetrometer to a depth of 0–30 cm within each plot. Soil moisture contents were determined using a TDR sensor at the time of PR measurements. Both measurements were monitored prior to planting in spring and after harvest. Initial PR results from spring 2014 showed that all plots had an average of 2.244 MPa between the 8–20 cm depth, due to a history of tillage and wheel traffic caused by various field activities. Covariance analysis indicated that soil PR was not significantly affected by crop type and moisture content. After one cycle of the 2 yr rotation, the 2016 measurements indicated that the compacted layer existed at the same initial depths. However, after two and three cycles, soil PR values were reduced to 1.480, 1.812, 1.775, 1.645 MPa in spring 2018 and 1.568, 1.581, 1.476, 1.458 MPa in 2020 under camelina, carinata, cover crop mix, and durum treatments, respectively. These findings indicate that previous cover crop roots could effectively improve soil compaction by penetrating the compacted layer, decompose over time and form voids and root channels. Although these results are novel and significant, further research is needed on different soils and under cover crops with different root systems to support our findings prior to making any conclusion.


2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriano Stephan Nascente ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of cover crops and timing of pre-emergence herbicide applications on soybean yield under no-tillage system. The experiment consisted of four cover crops (Panicum maximum, Urochloa ruziziensis, U. brizantha, and pearl millet) and fallow, in addition to four herbicide timings (30, 20, 10, and 0 days before soybean sowing), under no-tillage system (NTS), and of two control treatments under conventional tillage system (CTS). The experimental design was a completely randomized block, in a split-plot arrangement, with three replicates. Soybean under fallow, P. maximum, U. ruziziensis, U. brizantha, and pearl millet in the NTS and soybean under U. brizantha in the CTS did not differ significantly regarding yield. Soybean under fallow in the CTS significantly reduced yield when compared to the other treatments. The amount of straw on soil surface did not significantly affect soybean yield. Chemical management of P. maximum and U. brizantha near the soybean sowing date causes significant damage in soybean yield. However, herbicide timing in fallow, U. ruziziensis, and pearl millet does not affect soybean yield.


2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. László ◽  
C. Gyuricza

Within the framework of cooperation between Szent István University and the Vienna University of Agricultural Sciences, a soil cultivation experiment in a maize (Zea mays L.) monoculture was set up for the first time in Austria near Pyhra (Lower Austria) in 1996. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ridge tillage (RT) in comparison with conventional mouldboard ploughing in autumn (CT) and no-tillage (NT) on the penetration resistance (PR), soil bulk density (BD) and porosity (P) of sandy loam soil (Typic Agriudoll). Analyses were made for each treatment and for different parts of the ridge (top and side of the ridge, and interrow) in 1998, 2000 and 2002. The average PR and BD values were greatest in the no-tillage plot, being 3.42 MPa and 1.56 g·cm-3, respectively. After six years, ridge tillage resulted in lower penetration resistance and bulk density values in the upper 20 cm than conventional tillage and no-tillage. Ridge tillage appears capable of reducing compaction in this soil. It can be concluded from the results that ridge tillage is capable of maintaining and improving favourable physical conditions in the soil.


Author(s):  
Marla O. Fagundes ◽  
Diony A. Reis ◽  
Roberto B. Portella ◽  
Fabiano J. Perina ◽  
Julio C. Bogiani

ABSTRACT Assessing soil quality under different cover crops or different management systems is essential to its conservation. This study aimed to evaluate an Oxisol cultivated with corn and cotton, after different crop successions and under no-tillage system (NTS) and conventional tillage system (CT), through the soil quality index (SQI), using an area of native Cerrado as reference. The study was carried out in the municipality of Luís Eduardo Magalhães, Western Bahia, Brazil. Soil samples with the preserved and non-preserved structure were collected in the layers of 0-0.05 m, 0.05-0.10 m, and 0.10-0.20 m to determine the macroporosity, the soil bulk density, the available water, the levels of total organic carbon, the clay dispersed in water, and the degree of flocculation. The averages of the attributes measured in the treatments and the soil quality index, which was elaborated by the method of deviations of the values of the attributes measured in the treatments concerning the reference area, followed by normalization, were compared by the Duncan test (p ≤ 0.05). The soil under CT, in all treatments, had its quality reduced when compared to the NTS. Also, the SQI used was sensitive to detect the changes caused by the management systems and assign consistent scores to the evaluated soil quality.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document