Moldboard Plow Research Articles

Erosion Modelling Indicates a Decrease in Erosion Susceptibility of Historic Ridge and Furrow Fields Near Albershausen, Southern Germany

Ridge and furrow fields are land-use-related surface structures that are widespread in Europe and represent a geomorphological key signature of the Anthropocene. Previous research has identified various reasons for the intentional and unintentional formation of these structures, such as the use of a mouldboard plough, soil improvement and drainage. We used GIS-based quantitative erosion modelling according to the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to calculate the erosion susceptibility of a selected study area in Southern Germany. We compared the calculated erosion susceptibility for two scenarios: (1) the present topography with ridges and furrows and (2) the smoothed topography without ridges and furrows. The ridges and furrows for the studied site reduce the erosion susceptibility by more than 50% compared to the smoothed surface. Thus, for the first time, we were able to identify lower soil erosion susceptibility as one of the possible causes for the formation of ridge and furrow fields. Finally, our communication paper points to future perspectives of quantitative analyses of historical soil erosion.

Differentiated tillage system in the forest-steppe zone of the Middle Volga region

Evaluation of agroeconomic efficiency of different tillage systems for mustard, cultivated in a grain fallow rotation with the following alternation of crops: complete fallow - winter wheat – spring wheat - mustard is presented. The experiments were made in a field experiment in the forest-steppe zone of the Middle Volga region in 2019-2021. The soil of the experimental plot is slightly leached medium-powered heavy loamy chernozem. Tillage horizon is characterized by the following agrochemical parameters: humus content of 5.8 to 6.1%, the provision of mobile phosphorus is high (226 mg/kg), the potassium is medium (92 mg/kg), the reaction of the soil solution is close to neutral (pH 6.6). The object of the study is the mustard variety Rhapsody, the subject of the study is soil tillage systems. The expediency of replacing the annual classic plowing with a differentiated treatment in the rotation, based on the alternation of deep plowing and surface disc cultivation is established. It positively affects the process of formation of agrophysical, biological and agrochemical properties of soil, contributes to the conservation of productive moisture reserves, and helps to reduce weed infestation of crops. This treatment leads to a significant increase in the yield by 0.11 t/ha, allows for the highest yields of 199% (on average for the backgrounds) and the highest energy factor of 1.33, which is 71 and 22% higher than on the option with the annual mouldboard plowing. It was noted that the used mineral fertilizers at a dose of N30P30K30 did not produce the desired effect. Lack of yield growth led to the formation of negative economic indicators when making mineral fertilizers in all the variants studied, with the exception of differentiated treatment in the rotation. In this variant, the maximum increase in the yield by 0.25 t/ha and the cost of gross output by 7500 rubles/ha, which is 1521 rubles/ha higher than the increased production costs is noted. In the option with annual mouldboard plowing fertilization was accompanied by a decrease in the net income and profitability levels by 965 rubles/ha and 75% relative to the non-fertilized background, indicating that the unprofitable use of fertilizers.

Evaluation of Tractor Field Performance Using Visual Basics Programming for Agricultural Farm Lands

The purpose of this research was to developed a program in visual basic software for predicting tractor implement performance of tractor implement combination. A conventional tillage system with a mounted mouldboard plough and three bottoms was used to collect data from a Chery tractor (Model RM750) with a four-wheel drive. The soil texture class were determined in laboratory. Soil cone index value was measured using a SpotOn digital compaction meter. The output of the visual basics simulation in this study was obtained by varying the depth of operation and soil cone index for an experimental farm field. From the simulation output the results this study covers of drawbar power, implement draft, pull, tractive force, fuel consumption, slip, power delivery efficiency, dynamic weight and wheel dynamic reactions were drawn by varying depth and soil cone index value.

Can a Change in Agriculture Management Practice Improve Soil Physical Properties

Soil conventional tillage has been associated with deterioration of its characteristics, while organic farming has been promoted as an approach to conserve a favorable soil environment. With the interest in nominating the tillage strategies without ploughing for maintaining long-term soil quality and subsequently increasing yields, this study set to identify if and how conservation tillage practices in organic management (OM) do improve soil physical properties compared to conventional management (CM). This study was conducted on matched field pairs in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The conservation tillage treatment effects of OM (superficial tillage using chisel at 10 cm depth) was compared with conventional tillage practices CM (mouldboard ploughing at 30 cm depth). The field pairs were homogenous in most respects that would reflect tillage impacts. Measurements included soil infiltration capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, penetration resistance, and effective bulk density. Infiltration rate, measured using a hood infiltrometer at 10 parcels, was computed using Wooding’s analytical method, while Gardner’s equation was used to calculate the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The steady infiltration rate qs (h) was two times higher under OM than under CM with an average of 624 mm/h and 303 mm/h, respectively. Penetration resistances of OM were lower than under CM irrespective of the clay content. The degree of compactness (effective bulk density) was greater under CM than OM. That small change in soil compactness affects the water infiltration rate and the hydraulic properties rather than intrinsic soil matrix such as texture. Numerical model Hydrus-1D results were more representative for simulating the soil water transfer and hydraulic parameters under tillage changes.

Tillage practices influence winter wheat grain yield prediction using seasonal precipitation

Making the best use of limited precipitation in semi-arid dryland cropping systems is important for crop production. Tillage practices may influence how this precipitation is utilized to predict winter wheat grain yield (Triticum aestivum L.). This study examined how tillage practices influence winter wheat grain yield prediction accuracy using precipitation received at three different periods of the season. Data were obtained from the period of 1972 to 2010 from a long-term tillage experiment. The study was designed as a winter wheat-fallow experiment. Each phase of the winter wheat-fallow rotation was present each year. The trial was set up as a randomized complete block design with three replications. Tillage treatments included no-till (NT), stubble mulch (SM), and moldboard plow (MP). Feed-forward neural network and multiple linear regression (ordinary least squares) were used to fit models under each tillage practice. No-till had the highest yield prediction accuracy with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.53 Mg ha-1 and accounted for 81% of the variability in grain yield. Stubble mulch had an RMSE of 0.55 Mg ha-1 and explained 73% of the variability in yield. Stubble mulch and NT were more accurate in yield prediction than MP which had an RMSE of 0.77 Mg ha-1 and accounted for 53% of the variability in yield. The multiple linear regression model was less accurate than the feed-forward neural network model since it had at least 0.30 Mg ha-1 more RMSE and accounted for only 5-8% of the variability in yield. Relative RMSE classified all neural network models as fair (21.6-27.3%) while linear regression models for the different tillage practices was classified as poor (33.3-43.6%), an illustration that the neural network models improve yield prediction accuracy. This study demonstrated that a large proportion of the variability in grain yield may be accounted for under NT and SM systems when using precipitation as predictors with neural networks.

Winter wheat grain yield stability under different tillage practices

AbstractGrain yield stability is vital for achieving yield consistency across a broad range of environments. The significance of this is well documented in crop genetic studies and may equally be relevant for tillage practices used in croplands. The objective of this study was to evaluate long‐term winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield stability under different tillage practices. The study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications. The independent variable was tillage with three levels: no tillage (NT), stubble mulch (SM), and moldboard plow (MP). The experiment was established as a winter wheat–fallow under a dryland cropping system. Each phase of the wheat–fallow was present each year. The historical grain yield data from 1972 to 2010 were presented in this study. Yield stability was assessed using regression coefficients (βi) and squared deviation from regression (S2d). Grain yield had average stability because each tillage practice had a βi of 1.0. The SM tillage had an S2d of 0.03 (P = .90), which was not significant than zero (0), while NT and MP had an S2d of 0.06 (P = .04) and 0.07 (P = .01), respectively, that were significant than zero (0). This suggests that SM had a more stable yield under different environments when compared with NT and MP. In general, using minimum tillage, such as SM, that maintains residues on the soil surface could contribute to yield resiliency across different environments and enhance land sustainability in dryland cropping systems.

Durum Wheat–Potato Crop Rotation, Soil Tillage, and Fertilization Source Affect Soil CO2 Emission and C Storage in the Mediterranean Environment

At present, the role of agricultural practices on the dynamic of GHGs is being investigated worldwide. In this study, the effects of soil tillage practices (conventional vs. conservation techniques) and fertilization sources (inorganic vs. organic) on soil CO2 emissions in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)–potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) rotation in the Mediterranean area were evaluated. This study aimed to understand the changes in the soil carbon content and the soil CO2 emissions under different soil tillage practices (moldboard plow (P), subsoiler (R), and spading machine (S)) and fertilization sources (mineral (M) and organic (O) with municipal organic waste). Soil CO2 flux, soil water content, and soil temperature data were collected for both crops using a portable closed-chamber infrared gas dynamics system. Significant relationships were detected between soil CO2 emissions and soil temperate and soil water content. However, these relationships were found only for durum wheat crops. Our findings indicate that including sustainable agricultural practices in wheat–potato rotation system could act as an appropriate alternative option to increase soil organic carbon, mitigate CO2 emissions, and reduce the dependence on chemical inputs and energy.

Sustainable control measures of IPM of the cereal leafminer Syringopais temperatella Led. (Lepidoptera: Scythrididae): Short-term effect of tillage system

Syringopais temperatella Led. (Lep., Scythrididae) is a serious threat of barley and wheat in Jordan as it causes a great loss in crop. There is a growing interest in the development of innovative control strategies aiming to minimize the environmental impact of pest management and improve the safety of the agro-food chain. However, little attention has been paid on the use of cultural control methods against the pest, accordingly, this study aimed at investigating the effect of tillage system in controlling S. temperatella in Jordan. The study was conducted in Karak Governorate during the 2019-2020 cropping season with four tillage types; no-tillage, moldboard, disk and chisel plows. Furthermore, three soil depths (15, 30 and 45 cm) were evaluated for each plow type. Data on the infestation percentage, number of larvae, plant height, grain yield weight, straw biomass, and soil moisture were recorded. Results revealed that pest infestation and number of larvae were significantly the lowest in moldboard plow followed by disc plow and chisel plow, and then in no-tillage. In addition, the pest infestation and number of larvae decreased significantly with increasing plowing depth. Plant height, grain yield, straw biomass and soil moisture were significantly higher when the moldboard plow was used, followed by chisel plow, disc plow, and then no-tillage; likewise, they were increased significantly with increasing tillage depth up to 45 cm. In conclusion, it is suggested to use the conventional tillage at a depth closed to 45 cm instead of no-tillage especially when a moldboard plow used.

Influence of tillage methods on food security and its agrophysical and water-physical properties

To maintain the pace of the agriculture industry and assist bridge the gap between food supply and demand, best-implemented, sustainable, and optimal solutions are needed. Soil and water resources, research and development, extension, agricultural education, and related infrastructure development must be prioritized to boost food production and enhance soil and water management. Research has been carried out on the effect of various methods of main tillage - chiseling with various types of chisel rippers and moldboard plowing - on the agro- and water-physical parameters of light chestnut soil. Differences in soil density and moisture levels have influenced the development of corn plants. On the variants with deep chisel tillage, the accumulation of dry and raw plant biomass and the yield of corn grain were higher. Thus, the methods of main tillage allow to regulate the agro- and water-physical state of the soil and to have a significant effect on the productivity of plants. On the basis of the data obtained, for high-quality main tillage, providing optimal indicators of its density, crumbling, reserves of total and available moisture in the soil, it is possible to recommend the use of an experimental chisel ripper CR-2.4.

Влияние агротехнических мероприятий и мелиоративных защитных лесных насаждений на дефляцию почв Ростовской области

Purpose: to study the deflation manifestation patterns on Rostov region soils in the cold and warm periods of the year, depending on the agricultural background, the projective cover of soil surface by plants and the availability of reclamation protective forest plantations. Materials and methods. Deflation studies were being carried out on the soils of Aksai and Orlovsky districts Rostov region from 1970 to 2022. Conventional research methods including the measurement of wind speed by anemometers, were used, the soil layer displaced by the wind was determined by the method of pins and dust collectors of authors own design. Results. During the period of dust storm from April 14 to April 21, 2003, the influence of the position and amount of stubble on soil removal under various methods of tillage was determined. During chisel tillage, the largest amount of stubble was noted – 250 pcs/sq. m, including the standing one – 110 pcs/sq. m and lying one of 140 pcs/sq. m. At the same time, there was a decrease in wind velocity from 10.9 m/s at a height of 0.8 m to 3.2 m/s at a height of 0.05 m. With more than 120 stubble pcs/sq. m remaining on the soil surface, the soil is protected from wind, and the removal of fine earth in these options is zero. The projective soil surface cover by plants is the next factor influencing deflation. When it decreases, the soil remains unprotected from wind gusts and soil removal increases, respectively, from 1 t/ha from a perennial grasses field up to 40–70 t/ha by non-moldboard plowing and up to 260–297 t/ha by moldboard plowing. Conclusions. To reduce the loss of fertile soil layer from deflation, it is recommended to carry out the basic tillage, leaving stubble and crop residues on soil surface, which reduce the wind velocity near the soil surface and prevent deflation.

Почвенные влагозапасы и водный баланс посевов ячменя ярового на эрозионно опасном склоне

Purpose: to determine the influence of soil cultivation methods on the value of soil water storage, water balance and water consumption deficit of spring barley on an erosion-hazardous slope on ordinary chernozems. Materials and methods. During the research, the methodological approaches by S. A. Vorobyev, A. N. Kostyakov, S. I. Kharchenko, A. N. Postnikov were used. The experimental design provides for three options of soil cultivation: moldboard plowing, non-moldboard (chiseling) and combined (slotted) plowing. Results. As a result of the research, the advantage of chisel primary cultivation was revealed in terms of moisture reserves accumulation in snow: in the fall-plow it allowed accumulating on average 16.6 % more water than with moldboard tillage. Research has shown that the main flow component of water balance is the total water consumption of spring barley, which varied during the growing season depending on the phase of crop growth and development and on the method of soil cultivation; differences in the productive moisture reserves with the advantage of non-moldboard methods of soil cultivation were noted. The greatest differences were observed on the date of barley sowing; at this time, the excess in water storage in the meter layer was 9.9 % with combined tillage and it was 10.6 % with chiseling, relative to the same indicator with moldboard treatment. Conclusions. It was found that the intensity of the decrease in water storage rose, starting from the earing phase, especially during moldboard cultivation. In the longest period from sowing to booting (97–110 days), an average of approximately 50 % of the total moisture is consumed, from the booting phase to the earing and from the earing phase to milky-wax ripeness by 20 %, and in the last period from milky-wax ripeness to the complete ripeness of corn is only 10 % moisture. In general, during the growing season, non-moldboard cultivation allowed reducing the water consumption deficit of spring barley to 4.7–5.4 % compared to the control, which is very significant under the conditions of a moisture deficit amounting to 276 mm during this period.

Study on the selection of the type and parameters of moldboard plow for combined tillage system

This article highlights information on the development of new techniques for preparing the planting area of nurseries for growing seedlings of ornamental trees and rare flowers. In forestry, the use of modern energy-saving agricultural machinery to create optimal conditions for plant growth allows for high volumes of product with minimal labor and material costs. Agricultural machines used today do not fully meet the agrotechnical requirements of technological operations. Therefore, it became necessary to improve the design of the combined tillage used, which in one pass carry out various work on preparing the soil for sowing, and for this, first of all, it is necessary to improve their working bodies that will produce a good air-water soil exchange. In the proposed technology, the furrow former of the complex tillage system reduces the accumulation of soil clods under the working body, forming optimal furrows for planting ornamental trees and seedlings of rare flowers. And since a complex operation is carried out in one run, it reduces the other cost. A plow with two moldboard bodies, of a combined tillage system, must comply with the requirements for use, and at the same time, the height of the moldboard plow opening furrows must be at least 20.5 cm, opening angle of the share wings is 60-65º, the angle of entry into the soil is 35-40º, the angle of the side cut of the wings of the working body is 37-40º, the width of the share wings is not less than 41 cm, the body length of plow must be not less than 78 cm.

Ergonomic Assessment of Power Tiller Operators during the Testing of System of Rice Intensification Practices at Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, Zamfara State, Nigeria

Nigeria is intensively working hard to achieving food security for its ever growing population. One of the strategies adopted was introduction of modern crop intensification practices and mechanization. In line with this, testing and evaluation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was conducted at Bakolori Irrigation Scheme (BIS), Zamfara State - Nigeria. Power Tiller was among the appropriate tools and machinery that were investigated. However, there is the need to match operator’s efforts adopted. Both male and female operators were selected according the ergonomic practices from two farmer’s groups selected for the study. These operators were calibrated using hand ergometer and stethoscope while calibration curves were developed. Weather of the days of the exercise were also documented. Similarly, the anthropometric data of operators were examined in order to compute the quetlets index. Ergonomic assessments of the operators was conducted for energy cost assessment with mouldboard plough, disc plough and puddler. The overall results indicated that: quetlets index of the male operators ranges 17.24 – 22.9, while that of the female was 17.86 – 21.00. The energy cost of the male operators for mouldboard plough ranges; 14 – 25kJ/min, disc plough; 13.2 – 23.1kJ/min and puddler; 10.3 – 15.8kJ/min. The female operators operated mouldboard plough, the energy cost ranges; 10.4 – 14kJ/min. It was observed that the energy cost of male mouldboard plough operator is almost twice that of the female in the same environment, soil condition and power tiller type.

The effect of the conventional and modified subsoilers on the Moisture content in clay soil during sun flower crop growth stages (Helianthus annus L.)

A filed experiment was conducted at agriculture college research station, Garmit Ali , Basrah university in ( 2014 ) . The soil texture is clay . Three plow types were used namely modifiled subsoiler , conventional subsoiler and moldboard plow . The first two plows (subsoilers) were used at operating depths of 30 , 40 and 50 cm . The moldboard plow was used at operating depth of 25 cm . These plow types were used to study their effect on the Moisture content of the soil in first of the season (T1) middle of the season (T2) and after crop harvesting (T3).The soil properties measurements were taken for different depths, d1 (0-15) , d2(15-30) , d3(30-40) and d4(40-50) cm . The crop used in the experiments was sun flower ( Helianthus annus L.) . The following abbrivations are used for the modified and conventional subsoilers operating depths 30 , 40 , and 50 cm , which are they S1D1 , S1D2 , and S1D3 and S2D1 , S2D2 and S2D3 respectively . For the moldboard plow depth of 25 cm MT is used . The control treatment is given (NT) .The experiments were conducted using R.C.B.D. design for three replicates . The filed was divided into three equal area blocks . Each block was divided into eight experimental units . The experimental parameters were randomly distributed on experimental untis . The crop seeds were planted on 4/4/2014 . The irrigation was added according to the difficiency in the water level of water evaporation basin . The addition of water was 100% of the measured evaporation value with another 20% as leaching requirement . The crop harvesting date was 4/7/2014 .The results showed :The plowing operation reduced The plowing operation significantly readused Pw compared with unplowed soil (NT) . S1D3 gave lower values of Pw while treatments S2D1 and MT gave the highest values of Pw . The operating depth (40) surpassed the other operating depth in giving higher Pw . The planting increased Pw at the middle of the season while Pw decreased at the end of the season .

Multiplayer mechanism design for soil tillage serious game

The primary goal of Serious Games is not only for fun but also for lesson. In learning the first stage of soil tillage which using the mouldboard plow, a proper understanding is needed so that the soil tillage process will follow the needs of plant growth. The use of serious games as a study instrument for soil tillage is under the concept of digital game-based learning (DGBL). The problem of players when playing serious games is less motivated to play because the serious game system and scenario are less challenging. That challenges accelerate the shape of knowledge and experience when playing the games (user experience). By referring to the Learning Mechanics Gaming Mechanics (LM-GM) model, which is based on multiplayer in serious games, hopefully the learning process of land management using the mouldboard plow can be optimized. This process can increase learning motivation and elevate the user experience. This research results a design concept of a learning mechanism and a game mechanism for a serious multiplayer game of soil tillage with a mouldboard plow. There are three types of learning mechanisms in conceptual and concrete components, also six types of game mechanisms that can be used as a reference for the formation of multiplayer serious games and the increase player motivation.

Effect of tillage and macronutrients application on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) under semi-arid conditions of Southern Russia

Tillage system and macronutrients are the many emerging farming issues that are addressed in contemporary cropping systems. In this regard, selection of a promising high-yielding variety of winter soft wheat was considered. The effects of basic tillage practices (Moldboard ploughing, Flat cutting ploughing and Disk ploughing) in combination with the different fertilization (Fertilizer-free, N90P50 and N180P100) were investigated on qualitative and quantitative parameters of winter wheat cultivar Grom under semi-arid environmental condition of southern Russia. The experimental design used in this experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest winter wheat Grom yield with the value of 5.3 and 5.6 t/ha was attained for Moldboard ploughing and Flat cutting ploughing at a depth of 20-22 cm combined with application of nutrients N180P100, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest grain yield (2.78 t/ha) was achieved in fertilizer-free treatment in combination with Disk ploughing 12-14 cm depth. Moldboard ploughing plus nutrient application N180P100 had the best results on leaf area (48.2 thousand m2/ha), photosynthetic potential (million m2 × day/ha) and dry biomass (10.1 t/ha).

Comparison of Some Soil Enzymatic Activities in Luvisol of Conservation and Conventional Tillage in a Model Experiment

The effect of soil tillage operation on soil biological properties has not been extensively studied in Hungary. We investigated some soil biological enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, and phosphatase) of a Luvisol, treated by different tillage, management intensities, i.e., conservation tillage (CT), fully conventional tillage with mouldboard ploughing every year (PT), and moderately conventional tillage with shallow and deep ripping intermittently in every two years (BR). A pot experiment was carried out in climate-controlled growth chamber for six weeks as a model experiment, of using the composite soils (0-20 depth) with the three types of tillage intensity. Our finding suggested, that adding of the crop residues might increase the soil organic matter content, that is reflected by the high concentration of labile carbon in the CT soil. The greater intensified soil aeration at the conventional tillage operation, contributed to the much higher dehydrogenase activity in the PT and the BR soil. Otherwise, the higher aeration of soil resulted a decreased β-glucosidase activity in the conventional tillage (BR) soil. The high phosphorus availability of soil correlated by the lowest phosphatase enzymatic activity and the improved available P ratio in CT soil, indicating the inhibition of phosphatase activity. The soil biological enzymatic activities was shown to be affected by the presence of different substrates at the three management practices.

Early Effects of No-Till Use on Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.): Productivity and Soil Functioning Vary between Two Contrasting Mediterranean Soils

The diffusion of no-tillage (NT) is to be encouraged because of the benefits it can provide in terms of improving soil fertility and counteracting global warming and climate change as part of climate-smart agriculture practices. However, the introduction of this management can be difficult, especially in the first years of application, and can lead to unpredictable yield results depending on the soil type. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to evaluate the early effect of NT use, compared to the conventional mouldboard ploughing (CT), on two different soils, a clay-loam (GAL) and a sandy-clay-loam soil (SMA), by monitoring a set of 43 different soil and plant variables that were expected to vary with tillage and/or soil type. At both experimental sites, NT showed lower wheat total biomass (−29%) and grain yields (−17%) than CT with a more pronounced decrease in GAL than in SMA. Yield differences were accompanied by modifications in nutrient, microbial community and soil enzyme activity dynamics which highlighted higher stress in GAL, than in SMA soil, attributable to lower crop residues decomposition and substrate availability. Therefore, our findings suggest that the negative consequences due to the transition to NT depend on specific soil characteristics, like texture and organic matter concentration, with different repercussions on soil quality as well as on wheat growth and productivity.

Soil organic matter fractions and carbon distribution under different management in Lesotho, southern Africa

AbstractSoil organic matter (SOM) is a complex mixture of multiple fractions of soil organic C (SOC) that can be influenced by management decisions. This study evaluate the effects of tillage (moldboard plow [MP] and no‐tillage [NT]) and commercial fertilizer as limestone ammonium nitrate (28–0–0) at three rates (0 [0‐N], 100 [100‐N], and 200 [200‐N] kg N ha–1) on SOC, soil total N (STN), and SOM fractions (total particulate organic matter‐C [POM‐C] and mineral‐associated organic matter‐C [MAOM‐C]). The study was established in 2008 on the National University of Lesotho Campus Farm, Roma Valley of the Maseru District in Lesotho, southern Africa. The soil classified as Berea series. Soil samples were collected from 0‐to‐5‐, 5‐to‐10‐, 10‐to‐15‐, and 15‐to‐30‐cm depths. Under NT, the SOC, STN, and POM at 0‐to‐15‐cm were 54, 47, and 40% higher than 15‐to‐30‐cm depth, respectively. Differently, 0‐to‐15‐cm the MP had 17, 17, 35% higher SOC, STN, and POM than 15‐to‐30‐cm depth. The SOC in the 0‐to‐15‐cm increased by 27% with MP and by 36% with NT at the 200‐N compared with the 100‐N rate. The highest N‐rate (200‐N) increased total POM by 28.8% for MP and 22.6% for NT than the100‐N rate. The greater increase in POM under MP with high N rate was probably related to the low initial total POM, where small changes in POM will be pronounced, whereas the high total POM in NT could mask the effect the high N rate addition. The coarse and fine POM accounted for 39 and 61%, respectively, of the changes in total POM at both NT and MP. The high percentage of SOC was observed within fine POM fraction (48.4%) in MP, which makes it susceptible to wind erosion, and within MAOM fraction (48.9%) in NT practice. The C/N ratio was highest with coarse POM (C/N ≈ 25) and lowest with MAOM (C/N ≈ 7.2) at both tillage practices. The low C/N ratio made MAOMC vulnerable to microbial decomposition. These findings suggest the need for conservation efforts where conservation tillage and N rates could be used to reduce SOC and POM losses and contribute to improve land sustainability and SOM conservation.

Influence of Reduced Tillage, Fertilizer Placement, and Soil Afforestation on CO2 Emission from Arable Sandy Soils

Extreme meteorological phenomena resulting from climate change caused by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) require the implementation of CO2 mitigation practices from various industries, including agriculture. Owing to varying soil, climatic, and agrotechnical characteristics, they may have different efficiencies in mitigating soil CO2 emissions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of three mitigation practices (reduced tillage, deep fertilizer placement, and soil afforestation) on CO2 emissions from sandy soils in Central and Eastern Europe allowing the prediction of the mitigation effectiveness of these methods. The average soil CO2-C flux under a moldboard plow system ranged from 218.4 ± 108.4 to 263.7 ± 176.6 mg CO2-C m−2 h−1 and under a reduced tillage system ranged from 169.7 ± 118.7 to 163.6 ± 115.2 mg CO2-C m−2 h−1 in a year with normal meteorological conditions and under extreme drought conditions, respectively. In the dry growing season, similar amounts of CO2-C were released from the soil fertilized to the soil surface and after mineral fertilizers application at a depth of 10 cm and 20 cm (133.7 ± 155.8, 132.0 ± 147.5 and 131.0 ± 148.1 mg CO2-C m−2 h−1, respectively). Meanwhile, from the forest soil, the average CO2-C emission in the dry growing season was 123.3 ± 79 mg CO2-C m−2 h−1. The obtained results revealed that reduced tillage on sandy soil allowed for reduced CO2 emissions from the soil by 28.7–61.2% in normal and drought weather, respectively. Under drought conditions, deep fertilizer placement did not reduce CO2 emissions from sandy soil, and CO2 emissions from forest soils were even higher than from arable soils.