Comparing soil physical properties from continuous conventional tillage with long‐term reduced tillage affected by one‐time inversion

Abstract

In addition to various positive aspects, long‐term reduced tillage may cause disadvantages such as increased weed pressure and soil compaction. Thus, single inversion tillage is customarily used for overcoming these drawbacks; however, the effects on the enhanced soil functions are unknown. The main objective of this study was therefore to assess whether improved soil physical properties following long‐term reduced tillage remain after one‐time inversion tillage by mouldboard plough. The study was undertaken on a silt loam field in Lower Saxony, Germany. Since 1996, this field has been subdivided into three treatments; one was managed conventionally using a mouldboard plough (CT), while on the others a chisel plough (RT1) and a disc harrow (RT2) were employed. In October 2014, the entire field was mouldboard ploughed. The following year, four field campaigns were conducted to compare the soil physical properties of the continuously conventional tilled plot with those affected by one‐time inversion tillage (RT1 and RT2). Dry bulk density (DBD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and infiltration rate [K(h)] were analysed in untrafficked and trafficked areas in each plot. There were clear differences between CT and RT. At all sampling dates, both RT plots had higher Ks and K(h) compared with CT. These differences also occurred to some extent on the trafficked areas. This suggests that improved soil hydraulic properties remained after one‐time inversion tillage of a long‐term reduced tilled field. Thus, one‐time inversion tillage may offer a suitable measure for overcoming some of the main disadvantages associated with long‐term reduced tillage, while preserving the positive effects on soil physical properties.

Understanding the effect of an agroforestry system with high litter input on topsoil permeability

“…The estimate is higher than 5.8 t ha −1 year −1 of litterfall for Cerrado stricto sensu (a similar vegetation relative to our native vegetation) (Valenti et al, 2008). The higher soil organic matter content for no-tillage compared with native vegetation may be the result of a combination of mulching and an absence of frequent disturbance by ploughing (Kuhwald et al, 2017;Nunes et al, 2018;Sharma et al, 2013). Several studies have identified benefits of implementing agroforestry systems to reduced runoff and peak flow (Narain et al, 1997), soil erosion (Jackson & Wallace, 1999) and soil moisture loss (Lin, 2010).…”

“…Land-use influences water supply because land management affects physical and hydraulic soil properties (Bruijnzeel, 2004;Kuhwald et al, 2017;Messing et al, 1997;Neris et al, 2012). The main effects are on macropore volume, aggregate size, water infiltration, penetration resistance and bulk density (Cardoso et al, 2015;Souza et al, 2006).…”

Soil and Crop Management Practices to Minimize the Impact of Waterlogging on Crop Productivity

“…Strategic deep tillage (SDT) is a single or occasional practice with a deep ripper, rotary, spader, mouldboard plow or disk plow to help sustain the long-standing productivity of the no-till system (Renton and Flower, 2015; Roper et al, 2015; Rincon-Florez et al, 2016; Kuhwald et al, 2017; Scanlan and Davies, 2019). Deep tillage or soil cultivation to loosen compact soil layers, particularly the clay subsoil, has been suggested to improve drainage in the subsoil, thus reducing waterlogging (Gardner et al, 1992).…”

Evaluation of Metabolomic Profile and Growth of Moringa oleifera L. Cultivated with Vermicompost under Different Soil Types

“…Therefore, agriculture should be an activity that safeguards organic matter in the soil and improves the conditions of those that have already been degraded to generate more arable land [2]. However, intensive agricultural practices negatively affect soil quality, as monocultures are sown for many seasons and agricultural inputs, such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, are used with the aim of increasing yields [3]. Therefore, the use of organic inputs, such as vermicompost, can provide benefits for both plants and soil in order to improve soil fertility [4,5].…”