Long term impact of no-till on soil properties and crop productivity on the Canadian prairies

Lafond, G. P.; Walley, F.L.; May, William E.; Holzapfel, C. B.

doi:10.1016/j.still.2011.09.006

Cited by 51 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…While the research presented here represents only 1 yr of data, and further studies are needed, the results were consistent with previous studies [Wang et al (2007[Wang et al ( , 2008 for wheat, Lafond et al (2011) for canola and Borstlap and Entz (1994) for field pea], showing that HR conditions such as those associated with no-till practices can improve near soil surface moisture and reduce peak soil temperatures. The improved microclimate conditions near the soil surface by retaining surface residue may serve as a basis on which the benefits of no-till practices on promoting root growth, increasing aboveground biomass accumulation and enhancing crop yield can be further explored.…”

supporting

confidence: 91%

Can surface residue alleviate water and heat stress?

et al. 2015

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Z. 2015. Can surface residue alleviate water and heat stress? Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 197Á200. Surface-placed residue increased the near soil surface moisture and reduced root heat stress. The improved micro environment resulted in greater root length for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus) and 34, 8 and 8% higher yield, 7, 52 and 20% more straw and 7, 5, and 7.5 cm taller than the non-residue check for wheat, canola and dry pea (Pisum sativum), respectively.

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supporting

confidence: 91%

Can surface residue alleviate water and heat stress?

et al. 2015

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“…Reduced N mineralization under notill may also reduce yields where N is limiting (Campbell et al 2011). Lafond et al (2011) observed that N uptake and yields in long-term (31 yr) no-till exceeded those in short-term (9 yr) no-till, suggesting that even after 9 yr, and possibly even after 31 yr, no-till soils may still be in a soil-building phase. No-till systems may offer an additional contribution to sustainable cropping systems by facilitating the cycling of perennial forages in rotation (Allen and Entz 1994).…”

Section: Reducing Tillagementioning

confidence: 97%

“…Positive effects of no-till on soil health parameters have been widely documented and include major reductions in soil erosion and fuel consumption, reduced CO 2 emissions, and enhanced water quality, biological activity, soil fertility and production stability (Pretty 2008;Derpsch et al 2010;Lafond et al 2011 and references therein). Studies in the NGP have also reported better soil aggregation, enhanced soil organic C, and increased potentially mineralizable N in no-till soils (McConkey et al 2003;Liebig et al 2004;Pikul et al 2009;Malhi et al 2009;Lafond et al 2011). Microbial biomass, especially of mycorrhizal fungi, is often, but not always, greater in no-till soils (Liebig et al 2004;Helgason et al 2010;Monreal et al 2011); soil organism community structure may also be different in no-till than tilled soils (Helgason et al 2010).…”

Section: Reducing Tillagementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transporting liquid manure long distances is energy intensive (Wiens et al 2008) and has prompted research on methods to separate solid and liquid components of liquid manures (e.g., Fangueiro et al 2012;Xia et al 2012) and on the agronomic effects of the resulting components (e.g., Bittman et al 2011). Implements for improved application of solid manure are also being developed (e.g., Lague¨et al 2006). Composting manure may enhance its agronomic and soil health benefits (Lynch et al 2005).…”

Section: Animal Manure and Compostmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

2015

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Thiessen Martens, J. R., Entz, M. H. and Wonneck, M. D. 2015. Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1049Á1072. Redesign of agricultural systems according to ecological principles has been proposed for the development of sustainable systems. We review a wide variety of ecologically based crop production practices, including crop varieties and genetic diversity, crop selection and rotation, cover crops, annual polyculture, perennial forages, perennial grains, agroforestry systems, reducing tillage, use of animal manures and green manures, soil biological fertility, organic production systems, integrated cropÁlivestock systems, and purposeful design of farm landscapes (farmscaping), and discuss their potential role in enhancing the profitability, environmental sustainability, and resilience of Canadian prairie cropping systems. Farming systems that most closely mimic natural systems through appropriate integration of diverse components, within a context of supportive social and economic structures, appear to offer the greatest potential benefits, while creating a framework in which to place all other farming practices. Our understanding of ecological relationships within agricultural systems is currently lacking, and a major shift in research, education, and policy will be required to purposefully and proactively redesign Canadian prairie agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.

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“…The soil at the site is a sandy loam Orthic Black Chernozem (Typic Haplocryoll) of the Oxbow Association, developed on medium-textured calcareous glacial till with gently rolling knob and kettle topography (Ellis et al, 1965). The climate is considered subhumid continental (mean annual temperature of 2.5°C; approximate annual precipitation and moisture deficit of 427 and 180 mm, respectively), with ≈ 110 frost-free days (Lafond et al, 2011).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of nitrogen fertilization and no‐till duration on soil nitrogen supply power and post–spring thaw greenhouse‐gas emissions

Hangs

Schoenau

Lafond

2013

Z. Pflanzenernähr. Bodenk.

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With a world population now > 7 billion, it is imperative to conserve the arable land base, which is increasingly being leveraged by global demands for producing food, feed, fiber, fuel, and facilities (i.e., infra-structure needs). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying fertilizer-N rates on soil N availability, mineralization, and CO 2 and N 2 O emissions of soils collected at adjacent locations with contrasting management histories: native prairie, short-term (10 y), and long-term (32 y) no-till continuous-cropping systems receiving five fertilizer-N rates (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha -1 ) for the previous 9 y on the same plots. Intact soil cores were collected from each site after snowmelt, maintained at field capacity, and incubated at 20°C for 6 weeks. Weekly assessments of soil nutrient availability along with CO 2 and N 2 O emissions were completed. There was no difference in cumulative soil N supply between the unfertilized longterm no-till and native prairie soils, while annual fertilizer-N additions of 120 kg N ha -1 were required to restore the N-supplying power of the short-term no-till soil to that of the undisturbed native prairie soil. The estimated cumulative CO 2 -C and N 2 O-N emissions among soils ranged from 231.8-474.7 g m -2 to 183.9-862.5 mg m -2 , respectively. Highest CO 2 fluxes from the native prairie soil are consistent with its high organic matter content, elevated microbial activity, and contributions from root respiration. Repeated applications of ≥ 60 kg N ha -1 resulted in greater residual inorganic-N levels in the long-term no-till soil, which supported larger N 2 O fluxes compared to the unfertilized control. The native prairie soil N 2 O emissions were equal to those from both short-and long-term no-till soils receiving repeated fertilizer-N applications at typical agronomic rates (e.g., 90 kg N ha -1 ). Eighty-eight percent of the native soil N 2 O flux was emitted during the first 2 weeks and is probably characteristic of rapid denitrification rates during the dormant vegetative period after snowmelt within temperate native grasslands. There was a strong correlation (R 2 0.64; p < 0.03) between measured soil Fe-supply rate and N 2 O flux, presumably due to anoxic microsites within soil aggregates resulting from increased microbial activity. The use of modern no-till continuous diversified cropping systems, along with application of fertilizer N, enhances the soil N-supplying power over the long-term through the build-up of mineralizable N and appears to be an effective management strategy for improving degraded soils, thus enhancing the productive capacity of agricultural ecosystems. However, accounting for N 2 O emissions concomitant with repeated fertilizer-N applications is imperative for properly assessing the net global warming potential of any land-management system.

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Long term impact of no-till on soil properties and crop productivity on the Canadian prairies

Cited by 51 publications

References 64 publications

Can surface residue alleviate water and heat stress?

Can surface residue alleviate water and heat stress?

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

The effect of nitrogen fertilization and no‐till duration on soil nitrogen supply power and post–spring thaw greenhouse‐gas emissions

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