Comparison of conservation with conventional tillage for potato production in Atlantic Canada: crop productivity, soil physical properties and weed control

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
M R Carter ◽  
D. Holmstrom ◽  
J B Sanderson ◽  
J. Ivany ◽  
R. DeHaan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Tillage Practices

Conservation tillage (CT) for potato crop land has been increasing in Atlantic Canada, but producers are concerned that fields managed in this way may be wet, slow to warm in spring, have increased debris at harvest, exhibit higher soil compaction and result in reduced yield. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of four tillage practices on potato yield, soil properties and weed growth over a 3-yr period. The four tillage practices were: (1 ) conventional autumn mouldboard plowing followed by spring secondary tillage; (2) spring mouldboard plowing followed by secondary tillage; (3) autumn chisel plowing followed by spring secondary tillage; and (4) spring CT. Tillage practices significantly affected soil water content (at both the 0- to 15-cm and 15- to 30-cm soil depths) with CT generally showing a greater soil water content prior to spring tillage in comparison to the other treatments. Soil temperature (at the 2- to 5-cm soil depth) prior to spring tillage was not influenced by tillage differences. Conservation tillage increased soil compaction at the 10- to 30-cm soil depth, but not to a level considered detrimental to root growth. Tillage treatments had no effect on amount of soil clods and plant debris passing over the harvester. Potato yield (range of 43 to 51 Mg ha-1) and quality were not adversely influenced by tillage practices. There were few treatment effects on individual weed species or groupings of annual, perennial and total weeds. Overall, CT can be a viable management alternative to conventional tillage because this practice does not negatively affect field management, potato yield, or soil quality. Key words: Conservation tillage, residue management, potato, soil temperature, soil moisture, tillage methods

scholarly journals SURFACE RESIDUES: EFFECTS ON SOIL MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE1

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-894
Author(s):  
GUSTAVO HADDAD SOUZA VIEIRA ◽  
ARILDO SEBASTIÃO SILVA ◽  
ARUN DILIPKUMAR JANI ◽  
LUSINERIO PREZOTTI ◽  
PAOLA ALFONSA VIEIRA LO MONACO
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Soil Disturbance ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Sunn Hemp

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine how crop residue placement and composition would affect soil water content and temperature during the dry season in the central region of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. A 19-week field study was conducted from April to August 2017. A 2 x 4 factorial study with four replications was implemented using a randomized complete block design. Factors were soil management [conventional tillage (CT) and no soil disturbance (ND)] and residue amendment [maize (Zea mays L.), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), a maize-sunn hemp mixture, and a no amendment control]. Soil water content and temperature were measured weekly at predetermined soil depth intervals. Soil water content was higher in ND plots amended with surface residues than under all other treatments in the 0 to 0.05 m depth range. All residue amendments in this range were equally effective in conserving soil water. Surface residues reduced soil temperature by up to 8.4 °C relative to the control in ND plots. Incorporating residue amendments by CT cancelled all temperature-moderating benefits provided by surface residues. These results indicate that surface residues from cereals, legumes, or cereal/legume mixtures are equally effective in conserving soil water and moderating soil temperature during the dry season. Additional research is needed to determine how improved soil environmental conditions, generated by surface residues, would affect nutrient acquisition and crop performance.

Distribution of carbon and nutrients and fluxes of mineral nitrogen after clear-felling a Pinusradiata plantation

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1490-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Smethurst ◽  
E. K. S. Nambiar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
N Mineralization ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Southeastern Australia ◽  
Nutrients Fluxes

The effects of clear-felling and slash removal on the distribution of organic matter and nutrients, fluxes of mineral N, and soil water and temperature were studied in a 37-year-old Pinusradiata D. Don plantation, on a sandy Podzol in southeastern Australia. Slash, litter, and the top 30 cm of soil combined contained 1957 kg N•ha−1, of which slash and litter contained 12 and 25%, respectively. Therefore, loss of slash and litter due to burning or other intensive site preparation practices would substantially reduce the N capital at the site. During the first 18 months after clear-felling, soil water content in the clear-felled area was up to 50% higher than in the uncut plantation, but there were only minor differences in soil temperature. Slash removal decreased the water content of litter, but had little effect on the water content or temperature of the soil. In the uncut plantation, N mineralized in litter and soil was completely taken up by the trees. Following clear-felling, rates of N mineralization increased in litter after 4 months, and in soil after 12 months, but changes were less pronounced with slash removal. After clear-felling, increased mineralization and the absence of trees (no uptake) led to increased concentrations of mineral N in both litter and soil, 64–76% of which was leached below the 30 cm soil depth prior to replanting. Despite leaching, concentrations of mineral N after clear-felling remained higher than those in the uncut plantation for at least 3 years.

Influence of temperature on soil water content measured by ECH2O-TE sensors

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kočárek ◽  
R. Kodešová
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Influence Of Temperature ◽  
Reference Soil ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
Influence Of Temperature On

Influence of temperature on soil water content measured by ECH2O-TE sensorsThe aim of this study was to investigate the influence of temperature on water content value measured by ECH2O-TE sensors. The influence of temperature on measured soil water content values was clearly demonstrated. Soil water content values measured during the day apparently oscillated with oscillating soil temperatures. Average daily temperature and soil water content were calculated for selected periods. Regression relationships between deviations of soil temperature and soil water content from their daily average values were evaluated. Correlation between the soil water content and temperature deviations increase with the soil depth due to the lower influence of rainfall and evaporation at the soil surface on measured soil water content values in deeper soil layersegsoil water content oscillation was controlled mostly by oscillating temperature. The guideline values of linear regression equations (R2>0.8) were very similar, close to value 0.002 and the intercept values were equal to zero. The equation for recalculation of measured soil water content values at given temperature to reference soil water content for reference soil temperature, was propozed on the basis of this analysis.

Conservation tillage and biochar improve soil water content and moderate soil temperature in a tropical Acrisol

2020 ◽  
Vol 197 ◽  
pp. 104521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred Obia ◽  
Gerard Cornelissen ◽  
Vegard Martinsen ◽  
Andreas Botnen Smebye ◽  
Jan Mulder
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Conservation Tillage

Effect of Ceramsite Mulching on Soil Water Content and Temperature

2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 3177-3180
Author(s):  
Xue Hong Tan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Hebei Province ◽  
Heating Effect ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Better Than

This study investigated the effects of ceramsite mulching on soil water content and temperature in the central isolation belt of an expressway in Hebei province, China. Ceramsite mulching effectively improved the soil water content, and reduced the disparity between different soil layers in different months. The order of soil water content at different soil depths or in different months was: two layers of mulching (M2) > one layer of mulching (M1) > bare soil (MD). The effect of ceramsite mulching on soil water content decreased with soil depth. The effect of ceramsite mulching on soil temperature decreased with soil depth from 0cm to 15cm. ceramsite mulching had a cooling effect above 5cm,but had a heating effect at 15cm.M2 balanced soil temperature better than M1.

scholarly journals Freezing and thawing cycles affect nitrous oxide emissions in rain-fed lucerne (Medicago sativa) grasslands of different ages

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12216
Author(s):  
Yuan Li ◽  
Yuying Shen ◽  
Tao Wang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Denitrifying Bacteria ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Freeze Thaw ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Freezing And Thawing Cycles

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a major component of the crops used in dry-land farming systems in China and its management is associated with notable nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. A high proportion of these emissions is more likely to occur during periods when the soil undergoes freezing and thawing cycles. In this study, the effects of freeze/thaw cycles on N2O emissions and related factors were investigated in lucerne grasslands. The hypothesis was tested whether increased emissions resulted from a disruption of nitrification or denitrification caused by variations in soil temperatures and water contents. Three days (3 × 24 h) were chosen, where conditions represented freezing and thawing cycles. N2O emissions were measured for a fallow control (F) and two grasslands where lucerne had been cultivated for 4 and 11 years. Soil temperature, soil water content, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), and soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) contents were measured. Moreover, the quantities of soil nitrification and denitrification microbes were assessed. Variations in N2O emissions were strongly affected by freeze/thaw cycles, and emissions of 0.0287 ± 0.0009, 0.0230 ± 0.0019, and 0.3522 ± 0.0029 mg m−2 h−1 were found for fallow, 4-year-old, and 11-year-old grasslands, respectively. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that N2O emissions were significantly correlated with the soil water content, temperature, NH4+-N content, and the number of nitrosobacteria and denitrifying bacteria at a soil depth of 0–100 mm. The numbers of nitrosobacteria and denitrifying bacteria correlated significantly with soil temperature at this soil depth. MBN and soil NH4+-N contents correlated significantly with soil water content at this depth. Principal component analysis highlighted the positive effects of the number of denitrifying bacteria on N2O emissions during the freeze/thaw period. Furthermore, soil temperature and the number of nitrosobacteria at the tested soil depth (0−100 mm) also played a significant role. This shows that soil freeze/thaw cycles strongly impacted both N2O emissions and the diurnal range, and the number of denitrifying bacteria was mainly influenced by soil temperature and soil NH4+-N content. The number of denitrifying bacteria was the dominant variable affecting N2O emissions from lucerne grasslands during the assessed soil freeze/thaw period on the Loess Plateau, China.

Estimation of soil water evaporative loss after tillage operation using the stable isotope technique

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Busari ◽  
F.K. Salako ◽  
C. Tuniz ◽  
G.M. Zuppi ◽  
B. Stenni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Vapour Phase ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Water Evaporation ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Evaporative Loss

Abstract Application of stable isotopes in soil studies has improved quantitative evaluation of evaporation and other hydrological processes in soil. This study was carried out to determine the effect of tillage on evaporative loss of water from the soil. Zero tillage and conventional tillage were compared. Suction tubes were installed for soil water collection at the depths 0.15, 0.50, and 1.0 m by pumping soil water with a peristaltic pump. Soil water evaporation was estimated using stable isotopes of water. The mean isotopic composition of the soil water at 0.15 m soil depth were -1.15‰ (δ18O) and -0.75‰ (δD) and were highly enriched compared with the isotopic compositions of the site precipitation. Soil water stable isotopes (δ18O and δD) were more enriched near the surface under zero tillage while they were less negative down the profile under zero tillage. This suggests an occurrence of more evaporation and infiltration under conventional then zero tillage, respectively, because evaporative fractionation contributes to escape of lighter isotopes from liquid into the vapour phase leading to enrichment in heavy isotopes in the liquid phase. The annual evaporation estimated using the vapour diffusion equation ranges from 46-70 and 54-84 mm year-1 under zero and conventional tillage, respectively, indicating more evaporation under conventional tillage compared with zero tillage. Therefore, to reduce soil water loss, adoption of conservation tillage practices such as zero tillage is encouraged.

scholarly journals Differential Influence of No-Tillage and Precipitation Pulses on Soil Heterotrophic and Autotrophic Respiration of Summer Maize in the North China Plain

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2004
Author(s):  
Kun Du ◽  
Fadong Li ◽  
Peifang Leng ◽  
Zhao Li ◽  
Chao Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
North China Plain ◽  
North China ◽  
Summer Maize ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
The North ◽  
Precipitation Pulses

It is important to strengthen the studies on the response of soil respiration components to tillage practices and natural precipitation in cropland. Therefore, soil heterotrophic respiration (RH) and autotrophic (RA) respiration were monitored by a root exclusion method in the North China Plain (NCP). The tillage practices included no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and the study periods were the summer maize growth stages in 2018 and 2019. RH, RA, soil water content and temperature were measured continuously for 113 days by an automatic sampling and analysis system. The soil RH values on bright days and rain-affected days were higher under NT in 2018 (14.22 and 15.06 g CO2 m−2 d−1, respectively) than in 2019 (8.25 and 13.30 g CO2 m−2 d−1, respectively). However, the RA values on bright days and rain-affected days were lower under NT in 2018 (4.74 and 4.97 g CO2 m−2 d−1, respectively) than in 2019 (5.67 and 6.93 g CO2 m−2 d−1, respectively). Moreover, NT decreased RH but increased RA compared to CT in 2019. Compared to bright days, the largest increase in both RH and RA after rain pulses was under CT in 2019 (6.75 and 1.80 g CO2 m−2 d−1, respectively). Soil water content and soil temperature were higher in 2018 than in 2019. Moreover, NT increased soil water content and decreased soil temperature on bright days compared to CT in 2019. Furthermore, soil temperature accounted for more variations in RH on bright days and rain-affected days, but soil water content had a greater influence on RA on bright days. However, after precipitation, higher soil water content decreased RA under NT in 2018, while soil water content was positively related to RA under CT in 2019. This study determined the differential response of RH and RA to tillage practices and natural precipitation pulses, and we confirmed that excessively dry soil increases soil carbon loss after rain events in the NCP.

Microbial CO2 production from surface and subsurface soil as affected by temperature, moisture, and nitrogen fertilisation

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaobin Jin ◽  
Shenmin Wang ◽  
Yinkang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Sanjiang Plain ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
The Sanjiang Plain ◽  
Subsurface Soil ◽  
C Mineralisation ◽  
Q10 Values

The Sanjiang Plain of north-east China is presently the second largest freshwater marsh in China. The drainage and use of marshes for agricultural fields occurred in the past 50 years, resulting in the increase in cultivated land from about 2.9 × 108 m2 in 1893 to 4.57 × 1010 m2 in 1994. Under human disturbance in the past half century, the environment in Sanjiang Plain has had significant change. We hypothesised that environmental factors such as soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil N levels affect the rates of soil organic C mineralisation and the nature of the controls on microbial CO2 production to change with depth through the soil profile in the freshwater marsh in the Sanjiang Plain. In a series of experiments, we measured the influence of soil temperature, soil water content, and nitrogen additions on soil microbial CO2 production rates. The results showed that Q10 values (the factor by which the CO2 production rate increases when the temperature is increased by 10°C) significantly increased with soil depth through the soil profile (P < 0.05). The average Q10 values for the surface soils were 2.7 (0–0.2 m), significantly lower than that (average Q10 values 3.3) for the subsurface samples (0.2–0.6 m) (P < 0.05), indicating that C mineralisation rates were more sensitive to temperature in subsurface soil horizons than in surface horizons. The maximum respiration rate was measured at 60% water hold capacity for each sample. The quadratic equation function adequately describes the relationship between soil respiration and soil water content, and the R2 values were > 0.80. The sensitivity of microbial CO2 production rate response to soil water content for surface soils (0–0.2 m) was slightly lower than for subsurface soils (0.2–0.6 m). The responses of actual soil respiration rates to nitrogen fertilisation were different for surface and subsurface soils. In the surface soils (0–0.2 m), the addition of N caused a slight decreased in respiration rates compared with the control, whereas, in the subsurface soils (0.2–0.6 m), the addition of N tended to increase microbial CO2 production rates, and the addition of 10 µg N/g soil treatment caused twice the increase in C mineralisation rates of the control. Our results suggested that the responses of microbial CO2 production to changes in soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil N levels varied with soil depth through the profile, and subsurface soil organic C was more sensitive to temperature increase and nitrogen inputs in the freshwater marsh of the Sanjiang Plain.

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