Impact Of Conservation Tillage Research Articles

Tillage and Straw Management Practices Influences Soil Nutrient Distribution: A Case Study from North-Eastern Romania

Tillage practices govern crop quality and quantity through soil nutrient availability and crop root systems. A deeper knowledge of the impact of conservation tillage on soil chemical characteristics (such as pH, soil organic carbon, macro and micronutrient storage and distribution) is required for both the promotion of agricultural sustainability and environmental preservation. This study assesses the changes in soil features and properties in the context of a long-field experiment with different tillage systems and straw management practices. Research findings revealed that compared with conventional tillage (CT) conservative tillage with partial straw retention (MT) and no-tillage with straw mulching (NT) substantially boosted the organic carbon (OC) (by 6–19%), total nitrogen (TN) (by 2–12%), and available potassium content (AK) (by 2–5%), in 0–30 cm soil depth. However, the stratification trend was observed for available macro and micronutrient content (Zn, Fe, Mn) in both conservative management practices. The concentration of Cu indicates a constant pattern through a 0–30 cm soil profile with a higher concentration under MT (1.41 mg kg−1) compared to NT (1.10 mg kg−1). In particular, the results failed to establish if conservation tillage can increase the total phosphorus (TP) and potassium content (TK), where only in surface 0–10 cm an increase was observed. This research also suggested that the X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) of total micronutrient content (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn) is minimal or unpredictable with no substantial differences between the tillage systems and straw return management practices. These findings suggest that conservation tillage in north-eastern Romania might be optimal to maintain soil quality status and sustain high yields.

No-tillage farming for two decades increases plant- and microbial-biomolecules in the topsoil rather than soil profile in temperate agroecosystem

The impact of conservation tillage on the composition, stability, and origin (plant- or microbial-derived) of soil organic matter (SOM) within soil profiles remains unclear. In this study, we characterized the impact of different tillage practices on the molecular composition and status of SOM. These tillage practices included conventional tillage (CT) and conservation tillage such as rotary tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT). Our investigation spanned a two-decade period within a temperate agroecosystem. Soil samples were collected down to a 30 cm profile, and four biomarkers, namely free lipids, lignin phenols, neutral sugars, and amino sugars, in conjunction with 13C NMR techniques were used to quantify SOM characteristics. The results revealed that conservation tillage (especially NT) led to improvements in both the quantity and composition of SOM when compared to CT in the topsoil (0–5 cm), but not in deeper layers (5–30 cm). More precisely, the NT topsoil, as opposed to CT, exhibited enhancements in two categories: (1) an increase in plant-derived compounds such as long-chain lipids (≥ C20) and steroids by 51%, lignin phenols by 106%, and plant-derived neutral sugars by 61%, and (2) an augmentation in microbial-derived biomolecules, which includes microbial-derived neutral sugars by 49% and microbial necromass carbon (MNC) by 94%. Furthermore, NT, relative to CT, increased the contribution of MNC to soil organic carbon in topsoil (up to 64%, mainly fungal necromass). This highlighted the predominant role of microbial-derived biomolecules in SOM formation. Similarly, RT treatments enhanced the microbial-derived neutral sugars by 18%, plant-derived neutral sugars by 14%, and lignin phenols by 43% relative to CT in the topsoil. Collectively, our study suggests that NT practice could be considered an effective strategy for enhancing SOM accumulation and persistence by fostering the accrual of plant- and microbial-derived biomolecules in the topsoil.

Impact of Conservation Tillage on Soil Properties for Agricultural Sustainability: A Review

Impact of Conservation Tillage on Soil Properties for Agricultural Sustainability: A Review

Impact of conservation tillage and agronomic biofortification strategies on soil health and grain quality aspects under soybean–wheat cropping system

A field experiment was initiated in 2018 at ICAR-IISR Indore (MP), to study the effect of crop establishment techniques and agronomic biofortification methods on grain yield, crop and soil quality aspects under long-term conservation agriculture (CA) based soybean-wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two crop establishment techniques and eight agronomic biofortification methods. The results revealed that significantly higher grain yield, lowest soil pH, highest available nutrients (DTPA-Zn and DTPA-Fe), increased soil enzyme (Dehydrogenase) of soybean and wheat under conservation tillage. Among different agronomic biofortification methods soil application of Zn+Fe (DTPA-Zn and DTPA-Fe) reported significantly higher grain yield, compared to control. However, seed inoculation of microbial strains MDSR 14 + MDSR 34reported significantly lowest soil pH, highest soil enzyme. Soybean and wheat grain phytic acid/Zn (<15) and phytic acid/Fe (<10) molar ratio was found significantly lower under conservation tillage and foliar application of Zn+Fe. Thus, in long term, adaptation of conservation tillage along with soil or foliar application of Zn+Fe and seed inoculation of MDSR 14 + MDSR 34 could be prominent options to improve yield, soil and crop quality parameters under CA based soybean-wheat cropping system.

Effects of long-term conservation tillage on N2 and N2O emission rates and N2O emission microbial pathways in Mollisols

Conservation tillage is widely used in farmland management for soil carbon sequestration, but it can also lead to potential emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). Therefore, our study is aimed to investigate the effects of 15 years of no-tillage combined with four straw mulching levels of 0 % (NT0), 33 % (NT33), 67 % (NT67), and 100 % (NT100) compared to ridge tillage (RT) on the rates of N2O and N2 emissions and the respective contributions of four microbial pathways to N2O emissions. The incubation experiments were conducted at two different moisture levels (55 % and 100 % WFPS) by using dicyandiamide inhibition and 15N-labeling techniques. Soil samples were collected from the 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths across three maize growth stages: seedling, jointing, and maturity. Our results showed that conservation tillage significantly decreased the N2O + N2 emission at 55 % WFPS, but it has a reverse influence in N2O + N2 emission at 100 % WFPS. The proportion of N2O in gaseous N loss were higher at 100 % WFPS than at 55 % WFPS. Among the four microbial pathways for N2O emissions, autotrophic nitrification was the dominant pathway 55 %WFPS. The contribution of autotrophic nitrification remarkably decreased, co-denitrification and denitrification increased at 100 %WFPS. Overall, at 100 % WFPS, N2O emissions from all major microbial pathways were positively correlated with GWC, temperature, TC, TN, NH4+-N, and NO3−-N, but negatively correlated with soil pH and C/N ratios. Our results suggest that long-term conservation tillage increases N2O and N2 emissions from the soil under water-saturated conditions by regulating soil nutrient levels, soil moisture, and microbial pathways. Therefore, we should consider the impact of conservation tillage on N2O emission risk when we attach importance to the role of conservation tillage in improving soil quality and increasing crop yields.

Modification of the RothC model to evaluate the inconsistent effect of conservation tillage on SOC stock and a suggestion of a national-scale assessment framework

Simulation of conservation tillage effect on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock on the national scale is essential for Tier 3 level greenhouse gas inventory in the agricultural sector. However, the conservation tillage effects varied depending on different soil conditions, potentially leading to inaccurate national assessments. This study aimed to propose a framework for estimating the national scale impact of conservation tillage on SOC. As even in the most commonly used SOC dynamic model, the Rothamsted Carbon Model (RothC), does not reflect the conservation tillage effect in an explicit way, we modified it by developing the tillage rate modifiers (TRMs). First, we investigated the conditions for the inconsistent conservation tillage effects using the decision tree analysis based on 210 field experiment data from the mid-latitude region. The results highlighted that soil sand content and the existing SOC stock were the main factors driving the inconsistencies. After we categorized into four distinctive conditions, the TRMs for each condition were parameterized using a genetic algorithm. The average TRMs were 0.88 in the soils with sand content >37.6 % and 1.58 in the soils with sand content ≤37.6 %, indicating that conservation tillage is more effective in coarse-textured soil, and there is a risk of decreasing SOC stock in the latter condition. Using the modified RothC model, a three-step national-scale simulation framework was suggested: compiling country-specific data, establishing baseline and conservation tillage scenarios, and modeling conservation tillage effects with uncertainty analysis. Our approach also defined the maximum conservation tillage area, factoring in local cropping systems and soil conditions. Our refined RothC model with TRMs provides a nuanced understanding of conservation tillage effects, emphasizing the role of soil characteristics. The proposed national-scale simulation framework offers a reliable tool for evaluating conservation tillage impact on SOC, ensuring more accurate greenhouse gas inventories in agriculture.

Impact of conservation tillage on wheat performance and its microbiome.

Winter wheat is an important cereal consumed worldwide. However, current management practices involving chemical fertilizers, irrigation, and intensive tillage may have negative impacts on the environment. Conservation agriculture is often presented as a sustainable alternative to maintain wheat production, favoring the beneficial microbiome. Here, we evaluated the impact of different water regimes (rainfed and irrigated), fertilization levels (half and full fertilization), and tillage practices (occasional tillage and no-tillage) on wheat performance, microbial activity, and rhizosphere- and root-associated microbial communities of four winter wheat genotypes (Antequera, Allez-y, Apache, and Cellule) grown in a field experiment. Wheat performance (i.e., yield, plant nitrogen concentrations, and total nitrogen uptake) was mainly affected by irrigation, fertilization, and genotype, whereas microbial activity (i.e., protease and alkaline phosphatase activities) was affected by irrigation. Amplicon sequencing data revealed that habitat (rhizosphere vs. root) was the main factor shaping microbial communities and confirmed that the selection of endophytic microbial communities takes place thanks to specific plant-microbiome interactions. Among the experimental factors applied, the interaction of irrigation and tillage influenced rhizosphere- and root-associated microbiomes. The findings presented in this work make it possible to link agricultural practices to microbial communities, paving the way for better monitoring of these microorganisms in the context of agroecosystem sustainability.

Impact of conservation tillage on the distribution of soil nutrients with depth

Conservation tillage, defined as no-till with/without straw stubble covering, reduced tillage, or minimum tillage in this study, is widely used to mitigate the negative effects of intensive tillage. Achieving sustainable agricultural development and eco-environmental protection requires a deeper understanding of the effect of conservation tillage on soil chemical properties (e.g., organic matter (OM), nutrient elements, metal cations, and pH); we investigated these properties in this study using a global meta-analysis based on the data collected from 203 studies published worldwide since 1983. The results showed that compared with conventional tillage without straw stubble covering (CT), conventional tillage with straw stubble covering (CTS), no-till with straw stubble covering (NTS), no-till without straw stubble covering (NT), reduced tillage without straw stubble covering (RT), and minimum tillage without straw stubble covering (MT) significantly increased the topsoil (0–15 cm) organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), total carbon (TC), total nutrients (N, P, and K), available nutrients (N, P, and K), calcium ions (Ca2+), magnesium ions (Mg2+), and cation exchange capacity (CEC), respectively. However, the effects of conservation tillage on sodium ion (Na+) and pH are insignificant or inconsistent. In particular, the existing research data could not conclude whether conservation tillage can significantly increase Na+, or if pH was affected by conservation tillage practices, and both significant increases and decreases were observed. This meta-analysis also suggested that CTS, NTS, and NT significantly (p < 0.05) increased the subsoil (15–40 cm) OC, total nutrients (N, P, K), AN, and AP, respectively, compared to CT. Finally, compared with NT, NTS significantly increased the topsoil OM, OC, TC, TN, TP, TK, AN, and AP by 14%, 5%, 37%, 8%, 8%, 3%, 11%, and 16%, respectively. These findings indicate that conservation tillage can effectively improve the soil chemical properties, and straw stubble covering can greatly enhance the content of OM, OC, nutrient elements, and other soil chemical properties.

Impact of conservation tillage on runoff, soil loss, and soil properties on acrisols and ferralsols in central Benin

The present study is aimed at assessing the impact of different tillage practices and mulch input rates on soil erosion and soil properties in Central Benin. The experiment was carried out at two sites (Dan and Za-zounmè) using a randomized complete block design. The effect of three tillage practices: contour ridging (CR), slope ridging (SR), and no-tillage (NT) and four mulch input rates (0, 3, 5, and 7 t·ha−1) was investigated. The runoff, the soil, and nutrients losses were measured during the major rainy seasons of 2018 and 2019. Bulk density, gravimetric moisture, and water infiltration were collected in 2019. The effect of the interaction between tillage practices and mulch input rates was significant on runoff amount, runoff coefficient, soil loss, N, P, and K losses, and soil moisture. Over the investigated seasons, CR + 7M decreased runoff amount, runoff coefficient, soil loss, and N, P, and K losses by 100% compared to the treatments. NT was found to be effective in runoff and soil erosion controlling when combined with a mulch quantity greater than 3 t·ha−1, and NT + 5M and NT + 7M reduced the soil loss, respectively, by more than 30% compared to the farmer’s practice (SR + 0M) at both sites. Contour ridge treatments yielded more soil moisture than NT and slope ridge treatments. Whatever the tillage practice, the greatest gravimetric moisture was recorded on 5 and 7 t·ha−1 plots (i.e., CR + 7M, NT + 7M, and SR + 7M). This study provides decision makers with requisite information for effective soil erosion management in Benin where mechanization aids are limited.

Sustainable Conservation Tillage Technique for Improving Soil Health by Enhancing Soil Physicochemical Quality Indicators under Wheat Mono-Cropping System Conditions

An improved understanding of the effect of conservation tillage on soil physicochemical quality indicators is obligatory to manage and conserve soil in a climate change scenario. Tillage strategies change soil physicochemical characteristics, consequently modifying crop yields. Conservation tillage is generally used to improve the soil physicochemical characteristics globally. However, the impact of conservation tillage on different soil depths under wheat cultivation is not well documented. A 3-year study was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCDB). The objective of this research was to specifically study soil physicochemical indicators (soil bulk density, porosity, hydraulic conductivity, water content, temperature, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, C:N ratio, pH) and (crop yield) in conventional tillage (CT), straw incorporation into the conventionally tilled soil (CTS), no-tillage (NT), and stubble-retention to the no-tilled soil (NTS) measures under wheat monocropping system across different soil layers. Averaged over 0–40 cm soil layer, the results depicted scarce differences among the tillage practices regarding soil bulk density, porosity, water content and hydraulic conductivity. CT increased soil temperature over conservation tillage systems. Overall, conservation tillage improved soil total nitrogen, available phosphorous, total potassium, C:N ratio and yield than CT, whilst it decreased soil pH. We conclude that NTS and CTS are the best strategies to enhance soil health under wheat mono-cropping system conditions.

Conservation tillage and residue management improves soil properties under a upland rice–rapeseed system in the subtropical eastern Himalayas

AbstractPoor soil properties and low soil moisture content (SMC) are major limitations for cultivating a second crop after the rainy season rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the uplands of the Eastern Himalayas. Information on impact of conservation tillage and residue management (RM) to alleviate soil constraints is limited in the region. Thus, a field study was conducted in a rice–rapeseed (Brassica campestris Var. Toria) system under rainfed conditions with two tillage systems (CsT—conservation and CT—conventional) and five RM practices (100% NPK fertilizer, 50% NPK; 50% NPK + in‐situ rice residue retention [ISRR, 5 Mg ha−1], 50% NPK + weed biomass [WB, 10 Mg ha−1] fresh weight basis (FW)]; 50% NPK + green manuring [GM, 10 Mg ha−1 FW]), and their impact on soil quality parameters were assessed after 3 years. Significantly lower bulk density and penetration resistance (0–15 cm) and higher water infiltration rate were recorded under CsT than CT. The soil water holding capacity (WHC) and SMC in rapeseed were significantly higher under CsT than those under CT at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths. The WHC and SMC were the maximum under 50% NPK + GM/WB and the minimum under sole application of 50% NPK. After 3 years, there were 5.7% higher available nitrogen (N), 7.3% phosphorus (P), and 3% potassium (K) (kg ha−1) in 0–15 cm depth under CsT than those under CT, respectively. Similarly, SOC stock (0–30 cm), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) under CsT were significantly higher than CT. Application of 50% NPK + WB/GM/ISRR registered significantly higher available NPK, SMBC, and DHA in soil than those under 50% and 100% NPK. Thus, CsT along with 50% NPK + WB/GM/ISRR are recommended for improving soil properties under the rice–rapeseed system of the region.

Short‐Term Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Physical Properties and Productivity in the Midhills of Nepal

Core Ideas Aggregation and time‐to‐pond were improved under conservation agriculture.Conventional practice had a higher sorptivity rate than conservation agriculture.Maize yields were similar for conservation agriculture and conventional practice in the first year of production.Maize yields were less in conservation agriculture than in conventional practice in the second year due to patchy plant stands in conservation agriculture.There were no differences in yield between conservation agriculture and conventional practice for rapeseed or wheat. Conservation agriculture (CA) is a management system characterized by zero or minimum tillage, permanent soil cover with crop residue or plant growth, and crop rotation. This study investigated the impact of conservation tillage, crop type, and planting date on crop productivity and the soil physical properties for 2 yr following conversion to CA. After 2 yr, average mean weight diameter of dry aggregates for the 0‐ to 5‐cm and 5‐ to 10‐cm soil depths were 45 and 24% greater in the CA treatment than the conventional practice (CP) treatment, respectively. However, soil sorptivity was about three times slower in CA than in CP for rapeseed (Brassica napus L. toria) rotation treatments, but only 62% slower in CA than CP for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation treatments. Soil bulk density to a depth of 15 cm was greater in CA (1.30 g cm−3) than CP (1.24 g cm−3), but only for late‐planted treatments. Maize (Zea mays L.) yields for CA were not different from CP in the first year, but were 1.4 Mg ha−1 for CA and 5.0 Mg ha−1 for CP in the second year due to poor stand establishment under CA. There were no effects of CA on dry‐season rapeseed and wheat. Results suggest that during the transition of CP to CA, soil physical properties can be improved but yields may remain constant or decline. Achieving equivalent yield outcomes between CA and CP will largely depend on equivalent stand establishment.

Impact of conservation tillage and nitrogen on sugarbeet yield and quality

Conventional intensive tillage (CT) is widely practiced in sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) growing regions. However, CT uses more labor and machinery and has negative impacts on soil and environment. Limited information exists for the performance of sugarbeet in reduced tillage compared to CT systems. A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate yield and quality of sugarbeet under no-till (NT), and strip-till (ST) systems compared to CT. The response of sugarbeet to the increasing rate of nitrogen (N) from 56 to 224 kg ha−1 in each tillage system was also studied. Sugarbeet plant stand, root yield, root impurities (sodium, potassium, and amino-N concentration in the root), sucrose loss to molasses (SLM) and recoverable sucrose yield were measured. Tillage had no significant effect on plant stand, root yield, and recoverable sucrose yield. The estimated cost of tillage operation showed that growing sugarbeet under NT was 111 US$ ha−1 less than that in CT, which could be translated into 111 US$ ha−1 higher net benefit for growers considering the similar yields in both systems. Sugarbeet root yield linearly increased in response to increasing rate of N, however, sucrose concentration decreased and root impurities increased with increasing N input. Overall, little increase of recoverable sucrose yield was observed with N rate increasing from 56 to 224 kg ha−1. Response to N rate occurred irrespective of tillage method.

Impact of conservation tillage in rice–based cropping systems on soil aggregation, carbon pools and nutrients

Tillage intensive cropping practices have deteriorated soil physical quality and decreased soil organic carbon (SOC) levels in rice–growing areas of South Asia. Consequently, crop productivity has declined over the years demonstrating the need for sustainable alternatives. Given that, a field experiment was conducted for six years to assess the impact of four tillage based crop establishment treatments [puddled transplant rice followed by conventional tillage in wheat/maize (CTTPR–CT), non–puddled transplant rice followed by zero–tillage in wheat/maize (NPTPR–ZT), zero–till transplant rice followed by zero–tillage in wheat/maize (ZTTPR–ZT), zero–tillage direct seeded rice followed by zero–tillage in wheat/maize (ZTDSR–ZT)], two residue management treatments [residue removal, residue retention (~33%)], and two cropping systems [rice–wheat, rice–maize] on soil aggregation, carbon pools, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. After six years of rotation, in top 0.2 m soil depth, zero–till crop establishment treatments (ZTTPR–ZT and ZTDSR–ZT) had higher (p < 0.05) total organic carbon (TOC) over conventional tillage treatment (CTTPR–CT). Zero–till crop establishment treatments increased very–labile C faction (Cfrac1) by 21% followed by labile fraction (Cfrac2) (16%), non–labile fraction (Cfrac4) (13%) and less–labile fraction (Cfrac3) (7%). Notably, higher passive C–pool in conservation tillage practices over CTTPR–CT suggests that conservation tillage could stabilize the recalcitrant form of carbon that persists longer in the soil. Meantime, zero–till crop establishment treatments had higher (p < 0.05) water stable macro–aggregates, macro–aggregates: micro–aggregates ratio and aggregate carbon content over CTTPR–CT. The treatment NPTPR–ZT significantly increased soil quality parameters over CTTPR–CT. However, the effect was not as prominent as that of ZTTPR–ZT and ZTDSR–ZT. Retention of crop residue increased (p < 0.05) TOC (12%) and soil available nutrients mainly available–P (16%), followed by available–K (12%), DTPA–extractable Zn (11%), and available–S (6%) over residue removal treatment. The constructive changes in soil properties following conservation tillage and crop residue retention led to increased crop productivity over conventional CTTPR–CT. Therefore, conservation tillage (particularly ZTTPR–ZT and ZTDSR–ZT) and crop residue retention could be recommended in tropical rice–based cropping systems for improving soil quality and production sustainability.

Impact of conservation tillage and intensifying crop rotations in enhancing soil carbon, microbial cycling and aggregation in semiarid agro-eco systems: A review

Tillage influenced SOC and microbial cycling but most effects were observed at 0–5 cm rather than 5–15 cm. Reduced tillage (RT) in a continuous monoculture increased SOC by 24% compared to conventional tillage (CT) at 0–5 cm, but tillage had no effect at 5–15 cm. Crop rotation increased soil C contents compared to continuous monocropping rotation under CT increased SOC by 28% at 0–5 cm compared to CT continuous monocropping. Reduced tillage increased soil microbial biomass C (MBC) by an average of 11 and 18% compared to CT continuous monocropping and the adoption of crop rotation, respectively, while microbial biomass N (MBN) for RT was 62% greater than for CT. NT (no-till with residue) and RTW (rotary tillage with residue) treatments significantly increased the proportion of macroaggregate fractions (>2000 and 250-2000 im) compared with the MP-R (moldboard plow without residue) and MP+R (moldboard plow with residue) treatments. Averaged across all depths, mean weight diameters of aggregates (MWD) in NT and RT were 47 and 20% higher than that in MP+R. Aggregate stability in continuous rotations was about twice that in wheat-fallow rotations. Fungal biomass was three times greater in continuous rotations than wheat fallow, but was not significantly different from mid-intensity rotations.

Impact of conservation tillage on nitrogen and phosphorus runoff losses in a potato crop system in Fuquene watershed, Colombia

Intensive tillage (IT) in potato crops is considered as one of the main non-point sources (NPS) of local water eutrophication in the Fuquene Lake of Colombia. Therefore, the local government has invested in several programs aiming at the adoption of principles of conservation tillage (CT) which would allow for developing and applying the agricultural best management practices (BMPs). The complexity of hydrological and geological heterogeneity makes the degree of benefit that CT has in different locations uncertain. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to assess the impacts of changing IT for CT on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses in surface water runoff from the potato crop in the Fuquene watershed. This is done at field and watershed levels. A two-year study quantified the changes in surface water runoff pollutants for three potato crop cycles under the traditional IT practice and CT practice - which included reducing tillage, green manure, and permanent soil cover - at twelve runoff plots installed in the Fuquene watershed (Quintero and Comerford, 2013). This information was used to build, calibrate and validate the SWAT model. The results suggest that CT for the Fuquene watershed can be reduced up to 26% of the sediment yield and 11% of the surface runoff compared with IT, which means an overall reduction of load. The main CT effect on nutrient losses in runoff is an increase in the total N and P (2% to 18% respectively) compared to IT. However, the results at watershed level showed different patterns from those obtained at field level. Despite the model uncertainties, the results show a possibility of using hydrological models to assess the effectiveness of various field management practices in agriculture.

The impact of conservation tillage on maize yield and input demand: the case of smallholder farmers in north‐west Ethiopia

This study analyses the economics of conservation tillage (CT) with respect to its effect on maize yield and chemical fertiliser, herbicide, and female and male labour demand. We estimate production and input demand functions using seemingly unrelated regressions on plot‐level cross‐sectional farm household data collected in the north‐west of Ethiopia. A two‐step control function is applied to address potential endogeneity bias due to the inclusion of the CT adoption decision as an explanatory variable. Our results show that CT increases maize yield and chemical fertiliser demand. Additionally, the results show that the adoption of CT reduces female and male labour required for crop production. However, this is achieved through the increased use of herbicides, which might have an undesirable health and environmental effects.

Impact of Conservation Tillage on Soil Organic Carbon and Physical Properties –a Review

Impact of Conservation Tillage on Soil Organic Carbon and Physical Properties –a Review

Impact of conservation tillage and organic farming on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are strongly affected by land use intensity and soil type. The impact of tillage practices on AMF communities is still poorly understood, especially in organic farming systems. Our objective was to investigate the impact of soil cultivation on AMF communities in organically managed clay soils of a long-term field experiment located in the Sissle valley (Frick, Switzerland) where two different tillage (reduced and conventional mouldboard plough tillage) and two different types of fertilization (farmyard manure & slurry, or slurry only) have been applied since 2002. In addition, a permanent grassland and two conventionally managed croplands situated in the neighborhood of the experiment were analyzed as controls. Four different soil depths were studied including top-soils (0–10 and 10–20 cm) of different cultivation regimes and undisturbed sub-soils (20–30 and 30–40 cm). The fungi were directly isolated from field soil samples, and additionally spores were periodically collected from long-term trap culture (microcosm) systems. In total, >50,000 AMF spores were identified on the species level, and 53 AMF species were found, with 38 species in the permanent grassland, 33 each in the two reduced till organic farming systems, 28–33 in the regularly plowed organic farming systems, and 28–33 in the non-organic conventional farming systems. AMF spore density and species richness increased in the top-soils under reduced tillage as compared to the ploughed plots. In 10–20 cm also the Shannon–Weaver AMF diversity index was higher under reduced tillage than in the ploughed plots. Our study demonstrates that AMF communities in clay soils were affected by land use type, farming system, tillage as well as fertilization strategy and varying with soil depth. Several AMF indicator species especially for different land use types and tillage strategies were identified from the large data set.

Long-term Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Soil Properties and Crop Yields

Long-term Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Soil Properties and Crop Yields