CO2-measurements in a soil tillage experiment

Abstract

environmental loads originating from different agricultural habitats and of the microbiological activity corresponding to the actual soil state. Measuring the CC^-emission from the soil can provide several valuable information in the respect of soil utilisation as well. In 2002-2003 the CC>2-emission of the soil was measured with an ANAGAS CD 98 infrared gas analyser in the framework of a project led by the laboratory of Soil Science of Kyoto University on the pilot fields of Karcag Research Institute of University of Debrecen CAS. The main goal of the measurements was to determine the effect of soil cultivation technologies and certain agrotechnical elements on the CC>2-emission of the soil. It was established that the CO2emission from the soil cultivated with the soil conservation technology was significantly higher in the most cases compared to conventional tillage system based on ploughing. Methods In 1997 a soil cultivation experiment was introduced in the Karcag Research Institute carried out by the Department for Soil Utilisation and Rural development. The main goal was to elaborate and sophisticate new soil tillage techniques in order to stop and avoid soil degradation or even improve soil properties and sustain the improved soil state in an economically beneficial and environmental (soil-) protective way. The supposed solution was the application of the method of minimum tillage adapting to the given ecological conditions that are anything but favourable: • shortage of precipitation (annual 500 mm -> <- PET 700 mm), • unfavourable distribution of precipitation in time, • heavy textured, compacted soils usually endangered by secondary salinization or • originally salt affected soils.