Conservation Tillage: An Ecological Approach to Soil Management

Blevins, R. L.; Frye, W. W.

doi:10.1016/s0065-2113(08)60590-8

Cited by 229 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…This is generally depressed in soils treated with CT (Guzha, 2004); and finally iii) enhancement of soil organic matter (West and Post, 2002). The greater soil water availability with NT compared to CT is also attributable to decreased soil water evaporation in NT as a consequence of the minor soil surface roughness generated by soil cultivation and, above all, to the presence of crop residues on the soil surface (Blevins and Frye, 1993).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation tillage in a semiarid Mediterranean environment: results of 20 years of research

Ruisi¹,

Giambalvo²,

Saia³

et al. 2014

Ital J Agronomy

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Conservation tillage techniques are becoming increasingly popular worldwide as they have the potential to generate environmental, agronomic, and economic benefits. In Mediterranean areas, studies performed on the effects of conservation tillage [in comparison with the conventional tillage technique (CT)] on grain yield of cereal crops have reported contradictory results as well as considerable year-to-year variation, demonstrating how the impact of different soil tillage techniques on crop productivity is strongly site-specific. The present paper summarises the main results from a set of experiments carried out in Sicily during the last 20 years in which we compared no tillage (NT) to CT in terms of their respective effects on the productivity and quality of durum wheat, while at the same time varying some other crop management practices (e.g. crop sequence, N fertilisation, wheat genotype, sowing time). On average, no differences were observed between the two tillage techniques; yields were 3.84 and 3.87 Mg ha -1 for CT and NT, respectively. However, NT guaranteed superior yield when water stress during the crop cycle was high, whereas CT led to higher yields when water availability was adequate. Moreover, the results suggest that the use of NT needs to be accompanied by a rational crop sequence. In fact, a cumulative detrimental effect of NT over time was found for continuous wheat. Finally, grain quality in terms of protein content was slightly higher for CT (15.1%) than NT (14.4%). Thus, when using NT, the rate of nitrogen fertiliser application should be increased to offset this difference.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation tillage in a semiarid Mediterranean environment: results of 20 years of research

Ruisi¹,

Giambalvo²,

Saia³

et al. 2014

Ital J Agronomy

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“…It has been suggested that when residue is left on the soil surface, the nitrification can be inhibited due to the presence of the organic matter. Additionally, N may accumulate at or near the soil surface and restrict N-mineralization (BLEVINS;FRYE, 1993).…”

Section: Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization under different tillage systems and Permanent Groundcover cultivation between Orange trees

Balota

Auler

2011

Rev. Bras. Frutic.

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-The objective of this work was to evaluate the alterations in carbon and nitrogen mineralization due to different soil tillage systems and groundcover species for intercropped orange trees. The experiment was established in an Ultisol soil (Typic Paleudults) originated from Caiuá sandstone in northwestern of the state of Paraná, Brazil, in an area previously cultivated with pasture (Brachiaria humidicola). Two soil tillage systems were evaluated: conventional tillage (CT) in the entire area and strip tillage (ST) with a 2-m width, each with different groundcover vegetation management systems. The citrus cultivar utilized was the 'Pera' orange (Citrus sinensis) grafted onto a 'Rangpur' lime rootstock. The soil samples were collected at a 0-15-cm depth after five years of experiment development. Samples were collected from under the tree canopy and from the inter-row space after the following treatments: (1) CT and annual cover crop with the leguminous Calopogonium mucunoides; (2) CT and perennial cover crop with the leguminous peanut Arachis pintoi; (3) CT and evergreen cover crop with Bahiagrass Paspalum notatum; (4) CT and cover crop with spontaneous B. humidicola grass vegetation; and (5) ST and maintenance of the remaining grass (pasture) of B. humidicola. The soil tillage systems and different groundcover vegetation influenced the C and N mineralization, both under the tree canopy and in the inter-row space. The cultivation of B. humidicola under strip tillage provided higher potential mineralization than the other treatments in the inter-row space. Strip tillage increased the C and N mineralization compared to conventional tillage. The grass cultivation increased the C and N mineralization when compared to the others treatments cultivated in the inter-row space.

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“…Reduced tillage systems have been widely used in the midwest and southeastern United States to decrease soil loss caused by erosion and runoff (King 1983) and to reduce production costs through savings in fuel, time, labor, and machinery (Allmaras and Dowdy 1985). Other potential benefits include reduction in water use; improvements in soil hydrological properties; an increase in soil organic matter and nutrient availability; improvements in soil structure; an improved habitat for beneficial fauna; the potential to reduce weeds and crop pathogens; and a reduction in gaseous pollutants, respirable dust, and ground and surface water pollution (Baker and Laflen 1983;Blevins et al 1983;Blevins and Frye 1993;Franzluebbers and Arshad 1996;Franzluebbers and Hons 1996;Reicosky 1997;Lal et al 1998a, b;Baker et al 2005). Potential problems associated with reduced tillage systems have also been identified, including increased pest pressure, greater incidence of plant disease, herbicide carryover and runoff, and increased or different weed problems (Hinkle 1983;Koskinen and McWhorter 1986;Blevins and Frye 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other potential benefits include reduction in water use; improvements in soil hydrological properties; an increase in soil organic matter and nutrient availability; improvements in soil structure; an improved habitat for beneficial fauna; the potential to reduce weeds and crop pathogens; and a reduction in gaseous pollutants, respirable dust, and ground and surface water pollution (Baker and Laflen 1983;Blevins et al 1983;Blevins and Frye 1993;Franzluebbers and Arshad 1996;Franzluebbers and Hons 1996;Reicosky 1997;Lal et al 1998a, b;Baker et al 2005). Potential problems associated with reduced tillage systems have also been identified, including increased pest pressure, greater incidence of plant disease, herbicide carryover and runoff, and increased or different weed problems (Hinkle 1983;Koskinen and McWhorter 1986;Blevins and Frye 1993). Another frequently cited potential concern is the decreased availability of plant-available nitrogen (N) due to immobilization (Rice and Smith 1984;Blevins and Frye 1993;Franzluebbers et al 1995;Schoenau and Campbell 1996;Doran et al 1998;Power and Peterson 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potential problems associated with reduced tillage systems have also been identified, including increased pest pressure, greater incidence of plant disease, herbicide carryover and runoff, and increased or different weed problems (Hinkle 1983;Koskinen and McWhorter 1986;Blevins and Frye 1993). Another frequently cited potential concern is the decreased availability of plant-available nitrogen (N) due to immobilization (Rice and Smith 1984;Blevins and Frye 1993;Franzluebbers et al 1995;Schoenau and Campbell 1996;Doran et al 1998;Power and Peterson 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen supply from fertilizer and legume cover crop in the transition to no-tillage for irrigated row crops

Doane

Horwáth

Mitchell

et al. 2009

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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In spite of potential benefits and positive assessments of reducing primary tillage operations, only a small part of irrigated row crops is currently managed using reduced tillage, for reasons that include concerns about its agronomic suitability for certain crop rotations. Three years of a tomato/corn rotation under standard and no-tillage management were used to understand the fate of a fertilizer and cover crop nitrogen (N) application. Uptake of both inputs was reduced under no-tillage during the year of application, in this case a tomato crop. As a result, more input N was retained in the soil in this system. The initial challenge of reduced tomato yields diminished as no-tillage management remained in place and the soil N reservoir developed. Corn production was not affected by tillage treatment. Inclusion of a legume cover crop increased the amount of fertilizer N retained in the soil over time, more so under no-tillage than under standard tillage, emphasizing the benefit of cover crops in reducing the amount of fertilizer required to maintain productivity. While acceptance of reduced tillage ultimately depends on economic performance, the results of this study support its agronomic viability for irrigated row crops.

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Conservation Tillage: An Ecological Approach to Soil Management

Cited by 229 publications

References 51 publications

Conservation tillage in a semiarid Mediterranean environment: results of 20 years of research

Conservation tillage in a semiarid Mediterranean environment: results of 20 years of research

Soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization under different tillage systems and Permanent Groundcover cultivation between Orange trees

Nitrogen supply from fertilizer and legume cover crop in the transition to no-tillage for irrigated row crops

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