Soil Management for Conservation and Productivity

Decision support system for soil tilth assessment

“…Soil aggregation and organic matter changes were found to depend upon cropping treatment, as well as upon soil erosion (Wilson and Browning, 1945;Van Bavel and Schaller, 1950). Several studies evaluating the effects of tillage and cropping practices on soil tilth (Slipher, 1932;Faulkner, 1943;Browning and Norton, 1947;Lyon et al, 1950;Van Doren and Klingebiel, 1952;Klingebiel and O'Neal, 1952;Neal, 1953;and Melsted, 1954) found that under virgin conditions, the combination of structure, aggregation, organic matter content, and porosity resulted in nearly ideal soil tilth. The net effect of tillage practices, however, was decreased soil aggregation and organic matter content, and increased compaction and soil erosion; therefore, the result was reduced soil tilth.…”