Long-term rice-based cropping system effects on near-surface soil compaction

Abstract

Irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) production is as-sociated with frequent cycling between anaero-bic and aerobic conditions, which can lead to a greater rate of soil organic matter (SOM) de-composition, thus potentially increasing soil bulk density (BD) over time. A study was con-ducted in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas, USA to evaluate the long-term effects of rice-based crop rotations, tillage [conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT)], soil fertility regime (optimal and sub-optimal), and soil depth (0-10 and 10-20 cm) after 10 years of consistent management on near-surface soil compaction, as measured by BD. Soil BD was greater under NT than CT in the top 10 cm, but was similar between NT and CT in the 10- to 20-cm depth interval. Soil BD differed among common rice-based cropping systems with corn, soybean, and winter wheat, but few consistent trends were evident. It appears that, even after 10 years of continuous CT or NT rice production on a silt-loam soil, substantially increased near-surface soil BD has not occurred to the point where soil compaction would be a likely culprit responsible for a reduced early season stand establishment or crop yield differences among rice-based copping systems

Deeper tillage and root growth in annual rice-upland cropping systems result in improved rice yield and economic profit relative to rice monoculture

“…This confirms previous reports that anaerobic conditions reduce decomposition of organic residues by Pulleman et al (2000) and Norman et al (2003). In line, Motschenbacher et al (2011) indicated that instead, frequent cycling between anaerobic (flooding) and aerobic condition (none flooding) of rice and upland crop rotation can result in a greater rate of organic manure decomposition. In addition, a change in soil organic matter quality was denoted by the much lower fraction of 6 M HCl hydrolysable C in the R-R-R rotation compared to the others, Fig.…”

Effect of Organic Inputs on Strength and Stability of Soil Aggregates Associated Organic Carbon Concentration under Rice-Wheat Rotation in Indo-Gangetic Plain Zone of India

“…Annual application of 16 t ha -1 of rice straw for 3 years decreased bulk density from 1.20 to 0.98 g cm -3 in the 0-5 cm layer on a sandy loam (Lal, 2000). Jill et al, (2011) found that NT than CT in the top 10 cm, but was similar between NT and CT in the 10-to 20-cm depth. Soil BD differed among common rice-based cropping systems with corn, soybean, and winter wheat, but few consistent trends were evident.…”

Soil Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Paddy-Upland Rotation: A Review

“…However, the influence of paddy-upland rotation on BD had different results. Motschenbacher et al [ 13 ] indicated that BD differed among common rice-based cropping systems; however, even after 10 years of continuous production on a silt-loam soil, increased near-surface soil BD has not been achieved. A successive 10-year experiment showed that the BD of the 0 cm to 10 cm layer soil of paddy-upland rotation was 23.4% higher than that of the continuous cropping of semilate rice [ 14 ].…”

“…There is a large variation in soil BD of paddy-upland rotations, which ranges from 0.9 g cm −3 to 1.8 g cm −3 [ 2 , 13 , 14 , 19 – 24 ] ( Figure 1 ). This difference may be due to different soil types and textures and different cultivation and management measures, such as puddling intensity and depth [ 25 , 26 ].…”