Comparison of no-tillage and conventional tillage in the development of sustainable farming systems in the semi-arid tropics

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Thiagalingam ◽  
NP Dalgliesh ◽  
NS Gould ◽  
RL McCown ◽  
AL Cogle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Soil Movement ◽  
Dryland Crops ◽  
Semi Arid

The results of 5 short-term (4-8 years) experiments and farm demonstrations in which no-tillage technology was compared with conventional or reduced tillage in the semi-arid tropics of the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, during the mid 1980s to mid 1990s, are reviewed. In the Douglas-Daly and Katherine districts of the Northern Territory, dryland crops of maize, sorghum, soybean and mungbean sown using no-tillage with adequate vegetative mulch on the soil surface have produced yields comparable with, or higher than (especially in drier years), those obtained under conventional tillage. The importance of a surface mulch in ameliorating soil temperature, moisture and fertility, and in reducing soil movement and loss in crop production in the semi-arid tropics was confirmed. Management of mulch (pasture, crop residues and weeds) will be crucial in the application of no-tillage technology to the development of mixed dryland crop and livestock enterprises in the semi-arid tropics.

scholarly journals Diversification and Management Practices in Selected European Regions. A Data Analysis of Arable Crops Production

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 297
Author(s):  
Rosa Francaviglia ◽  
Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes ◽  
Claudia Di Bene ◽  
Lingtong Gai ◽  
Kristiina Regina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Organic Fertilization

In the European Union, various crop diversification systems such as crop rotation, intercropping and multiple cropping, as well as low-input management practices, have been promoted to sustain crop productivity while maintaining environmental quality and ecosystem services. We conducted a data analysis to identify the benefits of crop associations, alternative agricultural practices and strategies in four selected regions of Europe (Atlantic, Boreal, Mediterranean North and Mediterranean South) in terms of crop production (CP). The dataset was derived from 54 references with a total of 750 comparisons and included site characteristics, crop information (diversification system, crop production, tillage and fertilization management) and soil parameters. We analyzed each effect separately, comparing CP under tillage management (e.g., conventional tillage vs. no tillage), crop diversification (e.g., monoculture vs. rotation), and fertilization management (e.g., mineral fertilization vs. organic fertilization). Compared with conventional tillage (CT), CP was higher by 12% in no tillage (NT), in fine- and medium-textured soils (8–9%) and in arid and semiarid sites located in the Mediterranean Region (24%). Compared to monoculture, diversified cropping systems with longer crop rotations increased CP by 12%, and by 12% in soils with coarse and medium textures. In relation to fertilization, CP was increased with the use of slurry (40%), and when crop residues were incorporated (39%) or mulched (74%). Results showed that conversion to alternative diversified systems through the use of crop rotations, with NT and organic fertilization, results in a better crop performance. However, regional differences related to climate and soil-texture-specific responses should be considered to target local measures to improve soil management.

Being realistic about no-tillage, legume ley farming for the Australian semi-arid tropics

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL McCown
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Field Crop ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Semi Arid

There is a long tradition of expectation that, in time, land use in the better-endowed areas of Australia's semi-arid tropics would intensify from beef production on grassy woodlands to broadacre production of dryland crops. However, successive development attempts have yet to result in a substantial field crop industry. This paper reflects on a recent 20-year research and development episode in which ley farming, so successful in the wheat-sheep zone of southern Australia, was adapted and trialed in the tropical north. The system tested in the tropics was one which featured (i) coarse grain crops in rotation with legume leys and (ii) cattle grazing native pasture in the crop growing season and ley and crop residues in the dry season. It can be concluded that this system is technically successful. But compared with the ley system in southern Australia, the benefits of pasture legumes are less efficiently captured, both in the animal and the crop production enterprises. In addition, in this climate and on these soils, pastures with the high legume composition needed to substantially substitute for nitrogen fertiliser in the crop phase pose a serious threat of soil acidification. In contrast to legume leys, the advantage of no-tillage, mulch farming practices over conventional cultivation is much greater in this semi-arid tropical region than in temperate or Mediterranean areas: by slowing evaporation, mulch is often crucial in reducing high temperature injury or impedance to emerging seedlings as well as reducing the deleterious effects of intensive summer rainfall. But even with this improvement the climatic risks in dryland grain cropping remain a strong deterrent to crop industry development. Today, the findings from past experimentation, accrued farming experience, and new information products combine to provide what seem to be more realistic expectations for agriculture in this region. Even with the 'best' technology, this region suffers comparative disadvantage with respect to dryland field crop production and marketing. However, the region enjoys comparative advantages in the production of several other types of commodities, and a more realistic approach to 'Research and Development' includes a shift of resources toward activities with production and marketing advantages.

Operational aspects of ley farming systems in the semi-arid tropics of northern Australia: a review

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Yeates ◽  
DG Abrecht ◽  
TP Price ◽  
WS Mollah ◽  
P Hausler
Keyword(s):  
Seed Quality ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Transition Management ◽  
Ley Farming ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Operational Aspects ◽  
Ley Farming Systems

The ley farming systems proposed for the Australian semi-arid tropics involve rotating an annual pasture (usually legume) with crops sown using no-tillage. These systems were developed to overcome many of the climatic constraints that beset previous attempts at cropping in the region. However, difficulties in the timing of farm operations also contributed to past failures. No analysis of the operational aspects of ley farming had been made; this was the objective of this paper. During the transition between wet and dry seasons rainfall is extremely variable. These periods were shown to be the most critical time for operations in ley farming systems. During the dry-wet transition, management of ley pastures is very difficult because pastures must provide grazing for livestock as well as sufficient soil cover for timely sowing of a following crop. Legume pastures have reduced grazing value at this time due to spoilage by early rain. Similarly, during the wet-dry transition annual pastures must be allowed to set seed at a time when crops are yet to be harvested and stubbles are not available for grazing. It was suggested that including separate paddocks of perennial pasture could reduce the demand on annual pastures during the seasonal transitions. A limited number of days to sow a crop combined with severe yield penalties for late sowing restrict the area that can be sown in any season. Sowing opportunities were determined for 3 locations in the Northern Territory. No-tillage was shown to increase the potential number of sowing days. However, the time available to apply glyphosate before sowing using no-tillage was confined to the morning due to risk of afternoon rainshowers reducing efficacy. The number of seasons where a particular crop or cultivar could not be sown was independent of the method of tillage. The wet-dry transition was shown to be important for harvest operations. Our analysis of 3 sites in the Northern Territory suggests that for mungbean and sorghum, later maturity combined with prompt harvest will reduce the risk of poor seed quality due to weathering and could permit earlier sowing. However, for sorghum, an economic assessment of these practices required research that can quantify the interaction between sowing date, time-to-maturity and grain yield.

SOIL MICROARTHROPODS IN LONG-TERM NO-TILLAGE AND CONVENTIONAL TILLAGE CORN PRODUCTION

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. WINTER ◽  
R. P. VORONEY ◽  
D. A. AINSWORTH
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Soil Microarthropods ◽  
Organic C

Cultivation is known to reduce the number and diversity of microarthropod (Acarina and Collembola) populations from levels observed under natural forest or grassland vegetation. Under no-tillage crop production, the soil remains relatively undisturbed and plant litter decomposes at the soil surface, much like in natural soil ecosystems. The objective of this study was to investigate whether microarthropod populations under long-term (19 yr) continuous corn (Zea mays L.) production were increased by no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional tillage (CT; moldboard plow and harrowing) management. Numbers of microarthropods were also obtained from a soil managed as the CT treatment for 15 yr until seeding to bromegrass (Bromus inermus L.) hay for the last 4 yr. During the growing seasons over 2 yr, soil cores were taken every 2–3 wk and extracted for microarthropods using a high gradient extractor. The surface 5 cm of soil was sampled during the first year. All three treatments were different (P < 0.05), with bromegrass, NT and CT soils containing respectively, 15.9, 12.4, and 5.8 microarthropods × 1000 m−2 of which 84, 69, and 70% were Acarina. In the second year, the surface 15 cm was sampled and the number of microarthropods in the corn soils was similar (P < 0.05), containing 33.6 microarthropods × 1000 m−2, 92–98% of which were Acarina. However, microarthropods and soil organic-C were more concentrated in the surface 5 cm of soil in NT than CT. The soil under bromegrass contained 1.3 times more microarthropods (99% were Acarina) than under continuous NT and CT corn. Thus, when examined to a depth of 15 cm, 19 yr of NT corn did not increase the size of the microarthropod populations compared to CT, whereas production of bromegrass hay for 3–4 yr following long-term continuous CT corn did increased microarthropod numbers. Key words: Microarthropods, Collembola, Acarina, Zea mays, Bromus inermus, no-tillage, conservation tillage, soil carbon

Influence of tillage on soil macropore size, shape of top layer and crop development in a sub-humid environment

Biologia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramon Josa ◽  
Gil Gorchs ◽  
Marta Ginovart ◽  
Albert Solé-Benet
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Pore Diameter ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Elongation Ratio ◽  
Dry Land ◽  
Production Values ◽  
Crop Development

AbstractTopsoil macropores of two plots under no-tillage and conventional tillage were analyzed. A leguminous-cereal rotation was applied for six cycles under dry-land farming system (crop residues were removed). The clay-loam soil shows some vertic characteristics. The main goal is to identify the relationship between the top soil macro and meso-pore distribution for the two tillage systems (at the end of sixth cycle of cultivation) with the annual crop production (rainfall in normal growing period and crop production values are included). Unaltered topsoil samples were taken from 0 to 60 mm (row and interrow positions) and from the immediate depth (60 to 110 mm) in both plots (conventional and no-tillage). The morphometric analyses of 66 polished slices were carried out with the aim to identify differences in soil macro and meso-pore organisation.Soil macropores were classified by size (area) and elongation ratio and by form factor and equivalent pore diameter. No appreciable differences were observed. Soil macro and meso-pore distributions of samples were also compared. The main difference observed between topsoil’s treatments was a different macropore size distribution between topsoil positions. The presence of larger macropores was higher in conventional tillage compared to no-tillage. Samples taken from row and deeper positions of conventional tillage show a somewhat higher amount of macropores in the range between 2 to 2.3 mm equivalent pore diameter. Soil macropores contribute to increase soil aeration and soil drying when topsoil is too wet in critical periods of crop development. Conventional tillage (crop residues removed), provides to the topsoil of a larger lateral and vertical variability of macropore distribution than no-tillage topsoil.

scholarly journals Impact of crop residue management on crop production and soil chemistry after seven years of crop rotation in temperate climate, loamy soils

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Pierre Hiel ◽  
Sophie Barbieux ◽  
Jérôme Pierreux ◽  
Claire Olivier ◽  
Guillaume Lobet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Crop Residue Management ◽  
The Impact

Society is increasingly demanding a more sustainable management of agro-ecosystems in a context of climate change and an ever growing global population. The fate of crop residues is one of the important management aspects under debate, since it represents an unneglectable quantity of organic matter which can be kept in or removed from the agro-ecosystem. The topic of residue management is not new, but the need for global conclusion on the impact of crop residue management on the agro-ecosystem linked to local pedo-climatic conditions has become apparent with an increasing amount of studies showing a diversity of conclusions. This study specifically focusses on temperate climate and loamy soil using a seven-year data set. Between 2008 and 2016, we compared four contrasting residue management strategies differing in the amount of crop residues returned to the soil (incorporation vs. exportation of residues) and in the type of tillage (reduced tillage (10 cm depth) vs. conventional tillage (ploughing at 25 cm depth)) in a field experiment. We assessed the impact of the crop residue management on crop production (three crops—winter wheat, faba bean and maize—cultivated over six cropping seasons), soil organic carbon content, nitrate (${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) soil content and uptake by the crops. The main differences came primarily from the tillage practice and less from the restitution or removal of residues. All years and crops combined, conventional tillage resulted in a yield advantage of 3.4% as compared to reduced tillage, which can be partly explained by a lower germination rate observed under reduced tillage, especially during drier years. On average, only small differences were observed for total organic carbon (TOC) content of the soil, but reduced tillage resulted in a very clear stratification of TOC and also of P and K content as compared to conventional tillage. We observed no effect of residue management on the ${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$ content, since the effect of fertilization dominated the effect of residue management. To confirm the results and enhance early tendencies, we believe that the experiment should be followed up in the future to observe whether more consistent changes in the whole agro-ecosystem functioning are present on the long term when managing residues with contrasted strategies.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF SOIL TILLAGE AND PLANT RESIDUE ON SURFACE ROUGHNESS OF AN OXISOL UNDER SIMULATED RAIN

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 268-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elói Panachuki ◽  
Ildegardis Bertol ◽  
Teodorico Alves Sobrinho ◽  
Paulo Tarso Sanches de Oliveira ◽  
Dulce Buchala Bicca Rodrigues
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Plant Residue ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Minimum Tillage ◽  
Roughness Index ◽  
Simulated Rain

Surface roughness of the soil is formed by mechanical tillage and is also influenced by the kind and amount of plant residue, among other factors. Its persistence over time mainly depends on the fundamental characteristics of rain and soil type. However, few studies have been developed to evaluate these factors in Latossolos (Oxisols). In this study, we evaluated the effect of soil tillage and of amounts of plant residue on surface roughness of an Oxisol under simulated rain. Treatments consisted of the combination of the tillage systems of no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), and minimum tillage (MT) with rates of plant residue of 0, 1, and 2 Mg ha-1 of oats (Avena strigosa Schreb) and 0, 3, and 6 Mg ha-1 of maize (Zea mays L.). Seven simulated rains were applied on each experimental plot, with intensity of 60±2 mm h-1 and duration of 1 h at weekly intervals. The values of the random roughness index ranged from 2.94 to 17.71 mm in oats, and from 5.91 to 20.37 mm in maize, showing that CT and MT are effective in increasing soil surface roughness. It was seen that soil tillage operations carried out with the chisel plow and the leveling disk harrow are more effective in increasing soil roughness than those carried out with the heavy disk harrow and leveling disk harrow. The roughness index of the soil surface decreases exponentially with the increase in the rainfall volume applied under conditions of no tillage without soil cover, conventional tillage, and minimum tillage. The oat and maize crop residue present on the soil surface is effective in maintaining the roughness of the soil surface under no-tillage.

scholarly journals Crop Residue Management for Sustenance of Natural Resources and Agriculture Productivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maninder Singh ◽  
Anita Jaswal ◽  
Arshdeep Singh
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Soil Productivity ◽  
Crop Residue Management

Crop residue management (CRM) through conservation agriculture can improve soil productivity and crop production by preserving soil organic matter (SOM) levels. Two major benefits of surface-residue management are improved organic matter (OM) near the soil surface and boosted nutrient cycling and preservation. Larger microbial biomass and activity near the soil surface act as a pool for nutrients desirable in crop production and enhance structural stability for increased infiltration. In addition to the altered nutrient distribution within the soil profile, changes also occur in the chemical and physical properties of the soil. Improved soil C sequestration through enhanced CRM is a cost-effective option for reducing agriculture's impact on the environment. Ideally, CRM practices should be selected to optimize crop yields with negligible adverse effects on the environment. Crop residues of common agricultural crops are chief resources, not only as sources of nutrients for subsequent crops but also for amended soil, water and air quality. Maintaining and managing crop residues in agriculture can be economically beneficial to many producers and more importantly to society. Improved residue management and reduced tillage practices should be encouraged because of their beneficial role in reducing soil degradation and increasing soil productivity. Thus, farmers have a responsibility in making management decisions that will enable them to optimize crop yields and minimize environmental impacts. Multi-disciplinary and integrated efforts by a wide variety of scientists are required to design the best site-specific systems for CRM practices to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability while minimizing environmental impacts.

Effect of pH, Nitrogen, and Tillage on Weed Control and Corn (Zea mays) Yield

Weed Science ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 719-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Kells ◽  
R. L. Blevins ◽  
C. E. Rieck ◽  
W. M. Muir
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Linear Effect ◽  
Surface Soil Ph

Field studies were conducted to determine the effect of soil surface (upper 5 cm) pH and tillage on weed control and corn (Zea maysL.) yield using simazine [2-chloro-4,6-bis-(ethylamino)-s-triazine] as the herbicide for weed control. Soil pH, weed control, and corn yield were examined under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems with and without added lime and different rates of nitrogen. Increased soil pH significantly increased weed control as compared with added lime vs. no added lime, where the surface soil pH influenced the effectiveness of the applied simazine. Soil pH had a greater effect on weed control under no-tillage than under conventional tillage. Conventional tillage significantly (P<.01) increased weed control, yield, and soil pH over no-tillage. Additions of lime as compared to unlimed treatments resulted in significantly increased weed control (83% vs. 63%), yield (5,930 vs. 5,290 kg/ha) and soil pH (5.91 vs. 5.22). The poorest weed control was observed with no-tillage on unlimed plots. A significant tillage by linear effect of nitrogen interaction for all variables resulted from a greater decrease (P<.01) in weed control and soil pH and a greater increase in yield with increased nitrogen under no-tillage than with conventional tillage.

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