Abstract
Organic matter (OM) decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem service in conservation agriculture, but the response of this process to the conversion from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT) systems is not fully understood, especially during the transition period. Here, using a litterbag experiment (tea bag technique), we studied OM decomposition in a chronosequence of NT fields of different ages since conversion from CT (1 to 7 years) around Beauvais (northern France). We found that, in contrast with physico-chemical soil properties, the decomposition of both high quality (green tea) and low quality (rooibos tea) organic matter was significantly correlated with the NT age. Irrespective of the OM quality, the OM mass losses linearly increased with the time span since conversion from CT to NT. Taken together, our results suggest that adopting NT practices provides more favorable habitats for microorganisms involved in OM decomposition.
Highlights
The adoption of conservation tillage practices has been increasingly advocated to reduce the depressive effects of intensive farming on soil quality; alleviate greenhouse gas emissions through reducing fossil fuel consumption; and improve net returns by reducing operating, labor, and input costs [1]
Our results suggest that physico-chemical properties alone were not sensitive enough to track any early change in soil quality following the conversion from conventional tillage (CT) to NT
The chronosequence approach used in the present study allowed us to isolate time from the other factors controlling this process, namely climatic conditions and soil properties time from the other factors controlling this process, namely climatic conditions and soil properties [18]
Summary
The adoption of conservation tillage practices has been increasingly advocated to reduce the depressive effects of intensive farming on soil quality; alleviate greenhouse gas emissions through reducing fossil fuel consumption; and improve net returns by reducing operating, labor, and input costs [1]. A fundamental principle of conservation tillage is no-tillage (NT; known as drilling and zero tillage), which consists of sowing crops without any prior loosening of the soil by cultivation and keeping 30–100% of the surface covered with plant residues [2]. An essential building block of developing sustainable farming practices is to evaluate their effect on soil quality [9]. Soil quality is defined as the capacity of a specific kind of soil to effectively function through supporting plant and animal survival without threatening environmental quality [10]
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