On-Farm Tests Indicate Effects of Long-Term Tillage Systems on Soil Quality

Abstract

ABSTRACT To sustain productivity and environmental quality, an awareness of the impacts our management systems are having on soil quality is needed. The soil quality test kit is an on-farm tool that has been developed for conservationists and farmers to track changes in soil quality. The use of the kit was demonstrated by comparing soil quality on long-term no-till versus conventional tillage systems on a silt loam soil in Tennessee. The no-till management system had significantly improved surface soil properties over the conventionally tilled management system at this site. The no-till management system had higher infiltration rates, more stable aggregates, a lower soil respiration rate, a greater resistance to slaking, greater earthworm numbers, and a greater water content in the 0–7.6 cm soil depth. The soil quality test kit was able to distinguish differences in soil properties on this long-term management comparison. The kit is a good on-farm tool for use in comparison of relative differences in surface soil properties.