The Effect of Different Tillage Methods on Erosion

Abstract

Abstract During the years 2012‒2016 at the site threatened by erosion, the effect of different intensity and depth of soil tillage on the progression of erosion were evaluated on the plots with silage maize. Three different tillage methods were compared and evaluated - conventional tillage, including ploughing (CT), no-tillage using mulch and direct drilling (NT), and minimum tillage treatment with a lower depth of soil cultivation and organic matter incorporation (MT). Water and soil runoff on all of the experimental plots were measured during erosion events. Besides an analysis of naturally occurring rainfall causing erosions, we also conducted the test of soil infiltration abilities with a rain simulator after silage maize harvest. The effect of the tillage on aboveground biomass yield and the input costs was also analyzed. The results showed that NT and MT can significantly reduce water and soil runoff comparing CT. The highest yields were recorded in MT, while the lowest were in CT. Total input costs were higher in the case of NT and MT, but the share of mechanized work was lower for these technologies. Our results showed that NT and MT technologies, as a part of silage maize with a higher plant density stand establishment, should be a useable erosion control measure in areas vulnerable to erosion.