Impact of long-term wheat production management practices on soil acidity, phosphorus and some micronutrients in a semi-arid Plinthosol

Soil Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. Loke ◽  
E. Kotzé ◽  
C. C. Du Preez
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Production Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Straw Management ◽  
Straw Burning ◽  
Semi Arid

Farmers continuously remove crop residues for use as building materials, fuel and animal feed or bedding as well as to avoid difficulties during tillage operations. Therefore, demonstrations of the benefits of recycling crop residues are necessary. The aim with this study was to evaluate the influence of different wheat production management practices on acidity and some essential nutrients from a long-term trial on a Plinthosol in semi-arid South Africa. The trial was set up in 1979, and since then two methods of straw management (unburned and burned), three methods of tillage (no-tillage, stubble mulch, and plough), two methods of weed control (chemical and mechanical), and three levels of nitrogen (N) fertiliser (20, 40 and 60 kg ha–1) have been applied. Soil samples were collected in June 2010 at depths of 0–50, 50–100, 100–150, 150–250, 250–350 and 350–450 mm from plots that received 40 kg N ha–1 and were analysed for pH, phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn). Results obtained showed that straw burning resulted in higher P and Mn but lower Cu than no-burning. No-tillage, and to some extent stubble mulch, suppressed soil acidification and increased P and Zn compared with ploughing, especially in the surface layers where crop residues accumulate. In contrast, mouldboard ploughing and stubble mulch increased Cu more than no-tillage, possibly due to the strong affinity of organic matter for Cu. Tillage effects on Mn were inconsistent and difficult to explain. Chemical weeding also improved P, probably because of the pesticide application, but resulted in lower pH and Cu values compared with mechanical weeding. Treatment combinations also had an influence on P and, to a lesser extent, on soil pH and Cu, which might be due to the higher organic matter present in no-tilled soils. Irrespective of straw management or weed-control methods, no-tillage resulted in higher P than did ploughing and stubble mulch. Nutrient concentrations and pH values were sufficient for wheat growth under all treatments. However, although the nutrients were highest under straw burning, no-tillage and, to some extent, stubble mulch, wheat yield was higher with unburned straw and mouldboard ploughing. Therefore, an integrated approach from various disciplines is recommended to identify and rectify yield-limiting factors under conservation tillage systems.

scholarly journals Soil structure after 18 years of long-term different tillage systems and fertilisation in Haplic Luvisol

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 140-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Šimanský Vladimír ◽  
Lukáč Martin
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Arable Soils ◽  
Water Stable Aggregates

Soil structure is a key determinant of many soil environmental processes and is essential for supporting terrestrial ecosystem productivity. Management of arable soils plays a significant role in forming and maintaining their structure. Between 1994 and 2011, we studied the influence of soil tillage and fertilisation regimes on the stability of soil structure of loamy Haplic Luvisol in a replicated long-term field experiment in the Dolná Malanta locality (Slovakia). Soil samples were repeatedly collected from plots exposed to the following treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) combined with conventional (NPK) and crop residue-enhanced fertilisation (CR+NPK). MT resulted in an increase of critical soil organic matter content (St) by 7% in comparison with CT. Addition of crop residues and NPK fertilisers significantly increased St values (by 7%) in comparison with NPK-only treatments. Soil tillage and fertilisation did not have any significant impact on other parameters of soil structure such as dry sieving mean weight diameters (MWD), mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD<sub>WSA</sub>), vulnerability coefficient (Kv), stability index of water-stable aggregates (Sw), index of crusting (Ic), contents of water-stable macro- (WSA<sub>ma</sub>) and micro-aggregates (WSA<sub>mi</sub>). Ic was correlated with organic matter content in all combinations of treatments. Surprisingly, humus quality did not interact with soil management practices to affect soil structure parameters. Higher sums of base cations, CEC and base saturation (Bs) were linked to higher Sw values, however higher values of hydrolytic acidity (Ha) resulted in lower aggregate stability in CT treatments. Higher content of K<sup>+</sup> was responsible for higher values of MWD<sub>WSA </sub>and MWD in CT. In MT, contents of Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> were significantly correlated with contents of WSA<sub>mi </sub>and WSA<sub>ma</sub>. Higher contents of Na<sup>+</sup> negatively affected St values and positive correlations were detected between Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+ </sup>and Na<sup>+</sup> and Ic in NPK treatments.

scholarly journals Effect of different straw management practices on yields of continuous spring barely

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 27-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Procházková ◽  
J. Málek ◽  
J. Dovrtěl
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Straw Management ◽  
Straw Burning ◽  
Straw Incorporation ◽  
Yield Trends

Field experiments were conducted in the maize-growing region on heavy gleic fluvisol from 1974 to 2000. Three variants of straw management (straw harvested, incorporated into soil and burned), two variants of soil tillage (conventional plough tillage to 0.22 m, shallow disc tillage to 0.12&ndash;0.15 m) and three variants of fertilization (30, 60 and 90 kg N.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup>) were studied. After conventional tillage, the highest yield was obtained in the variant with burned straw (5.50 t.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup>), followed by the variant with straw incorporated into soil (5.40 t.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup>) and the lowest after harvested straw (5.01 t.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup>). At shallow tillage, lower yields were assessed in all variants of straw management in comparison with conventional tillage (after straw burning 5.07 t.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup>, incorporation into soil 4.66 t.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup> and harvest 4.54 t.ha<sup>&ndash;1</sup>). The ranking of variants was identical to that in inversion tillage; however, the yield increased more after straw burning in comparison with its incorporation into soil. Yields increased regularly along with increasing rates of nitrogen. If long-term effects of straw incorporation on yields and yield trends were evaluated (in comparison with straw harvest), statistically significant decrease in yields was assessed after shallow in contrast with increase in yields after deeper straw incorporation.

Burning crop residues under no-till in semi-arid land, Northern Spain—effects on soil organic matter, aggregation, and earthworm populations

Soil Research ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iñigo Virto ◽  
Maria José Imaz ◽  
Alberto Enrique ◽  
Willem Hoogmoed ◽  
Paloma Bescansa
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Organic C ◽  
No Till ◽  
Mineralisation Potential ◽  
Earthworm Populations ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Stubble Burning

Stubble burning has traditionally been used in semi-arid land for pest and weed control, and to remove the excess of crop residues before seeding in no-tillage systems. We compared differences in soil properties in a long-term (10 years) tillage trial on a carbonated soil in semi-arid north-east Spain under no-tillage with stubble returned and stubble burnt, with the conventional tillage system (mouldboard plough, stubble returned) as a reference. Differences in total soil organic C and C in particulate organic matter, mineralisation potential, soil physical properties (bulk density, penetration resistance, and aggregate size distribution and stability), and earthworm populations were quantified. The effect of stubble burning was absent or insignificant compared with that of tillage in most of the parameters studied. The most significant effect of stubble burning was the change in soil organic matter quality in the topsoil and penetration resistance. No-till plus stubble burning stocked an amount of organic C in the soil similar to no-till without burning, but the particulate organic matter content and mineralisation potential were smaller. Earthworm activity was similar under the 2 no-till systems, although a trend towards bigger earthworms with increasing penetration resistance was observed under the system with burning. Our results indicate that the role of burnt plant residues and earthworms in organic matter accumulation and soil aggregation in Mediterranean carbonated soils under no tillage is of major importance, meriting further attention and research.

scholarly journals Cereal straw management: a trade-off between energy and agronomic fate

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Monteleone ◽  
Pasquale Garofalo ◽  
Anna Rita Bernadette Cammerino ◽  
Angela Libutti
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Straw Management ◽  
Trade Off

Climate change mitigation is the most important driving force for bioenergy development. Consequently, the environmental design of bioenergy value chains should address the actual savings of both primary energy demand and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. According to the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC), no direct impacts and no GHG emissions should be attributed to crop residues (like cereal straws) when they are removed from agricultural land for the purpose of bioenergy utilisation. The <em>carbon</em> <em>neutral</em> assumption applied to crop residues is, however, a rough simplification. Crop residues, indeed, should not be viewed simply as a waste to be disposed, because they play a critical role in sustaining soil organic matter and therefore have an inherent C-capturing value. Moreover, considering straws as an energy feedstock, its status of co-product is clearly recognised and its availability could be obtained according to different cropping systems, corresponding to different primary energy costs and GHG emissions. This paper highlights some <em>hidden</em> features in the assessment of agricultural energy and carbon balance, still very difficult to be detected and accounted for. Although they are frequently disregarded, these features (such as long term dynamic trend of soil organic carbon and annual nitrous oxide emissions from the soil) should be carefully considered in assembling the energy and emission balance. By using a crop simulation model, the long-term soil organic matter and annual N<sub>2</sub>O soil emissions were estimated. Consequently, a comprehensive energy and GHG balance was determined in accordance with the <em>life cycle assessment</em> methodology. Contrasting methods of straw management and wheat cultivation were compared: straw retention <em>vs</em> removal from the soil; conventional <em>vs</em> conservation tillage; wheat cropping system as a single-crop or in rotation. The resulting <em>carbon</em> <em>footprint</em> of straws has different magnitudes with respect to the several experimental conditions. By selecting the best agricultural practices, energy from straw can be optimally coupled with grain productions, without detrimental effects on soil fertility. An improved and specifically tailored cropping system is designed to obtain an optimal trade-off.

A quantitative approach of the slake test for assessing soil structural stabilty

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Vanwindekens ◽  
Brieuc Hardy ◽  
Christian Roisin ◽  
Fabienne Delporte
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Soil Sample ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
No Tillage

&lt;p&gt;Soils are at the heart of agro-ecosystems. In various parts of Europe, soils, their structure and function are under pressure from intensive farming practices and global changes. The main consequences are a loss of biodiversity, a decrease in organic matter content, an increase in their susceptibility to erosion. In this context, some farmers are adopting innovative practices to increase the quality of their soils. Among innovative practices, those related to conservation agriculture are particularly highlighted.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Conservation Agriculture practices are based on the threefold principles of (i) minimizing mechanical soil disturbance (e.g. no tillage), (ii) permanent soil cover, and (iii) diversification of crop species grown in the plots. These practices are encouraged by the farmers who adopt them and some stakeholders (ASBLs, advisors, etc.). Some related practices raise questions (use of herbicides) and the effects of the practices on the soil are subject to debate within the scientific communities.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The physical properties of soils are traditionally estimated by a series of laboratory tests that are resource-, time- and money-intensive. We propose to present a new pragmatic approach to assess the functioning and quality of agricultural soils, the 'slake test'. In the development phase, this approach has been tested for contrasting fertilisation and tillage modalities in various long-term trials at the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A slake test is a simple and visual experiment shown by promoters of conservation agriculture. It consists of immersing a metal basket containing a soil sample and observing how this sample decomposes. It is done qualitatively, in two glass cylinders to compare soil samples from ploughed and no-till plots. Although this test is a quick way to assess the structural stability of a soil, its protocol has not been formalized and its results objectified by a quantitative method. We developed an original approach, the &amp;#169;QuantiSlakeTest, aimed at continuously measuring the disintegration of the soil sample.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This original experimental design was first tested by comparing two contrasted treatments of a long term field experiment in Chastres (Belgium). This field experiment was conducted between 2004 and 2018 by the CRA-W for comparing soil management practices. Samples were taken from plots of treatment T (tillage) and treatment NT (no-tillage) in five repetitions (10 plots). In each plot, seven samples were taken in the superficial layer using Kopecky rings. The samples were dried 48 hours at 50&amp;#176;C before being tested.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The application of &amp;#169;QuantiSlakeTest highlights significant differences between tilled and non tilled plots. After one minute, the relative residual weight are significantly different between treatments (T: 0.76&amp;#177;0.16, NT: 0.95&amp;#177;0.06, p&lt;0.001). At stabilisation, after 20 min, samples from tilled plots have lost more than 50% of their weight, while those from no-tilled plots have lost less than 30% (T: 0.49&amp;#177;0.32, NT: 0.71&amp;#177;0.22, p&lt;0.001).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These early results confirm that &amp;#169;QuantiSlakeTest is a credible approach for assessing the effect of soil management practices on soil stability, in controlled experimental conditions. We are now finetuning the protocol, trying the approach with room temperature dried samples and comparing other modalities (fertilisation, organic matter amendment).&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Effects of Management and Hillside Position on Soil Organic Carbon Stratification in Mediterranean Centenary Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 650
Author(s):  
Jesús Aguilera-Huertas ◽  
Beatriz Lozano-García ◽  
Manuel González-Rosado ◽  
Luis Parras-Alcántara
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Olive Grove ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Degradation Degree

The short- and medium—long-term effects of management and hillside position on soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were studied in a centenary Mediterranean rainfed olive grove. One way to measure these changes is to analyze the soil quality, as it assesses soil degradation degree and attempts to identify management practices for sustainable soil use. In this context, the SOC stratification index (SR-COS) is one of the best indicators of soil quality to assess the degradation degree from SOC content without analyzing other soil properties. The SR-SOC was calculated in soil profiles (horizon-by-horizon) to identify the best soil management practices for sustainable use. The following time periods and soil management combinations were tested: (i) in the medium‒long-term (17 years) from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT), (ii) in the short-term (2 years) from CT to no-tillage with cover crops (NT-CC), and (iii) the effect in the short-term (from CT to NT-CC) of different topographic positions along a hillside. The results indicate that the SR-SOC increased with depth for all management practices. The SR-SOC ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in CT0, from 1.48 to 3.01 in CT1, from 1.15 to 2.48 in CT2, from 1.22 to 2.39 in NT-CC and from 0.98 to 4.16 in NT; therefore, the soil quality from the SR-SOC index was not directly linked to the increase or loss of SOC along the soil profile. This demonstrates the time-variability of SR-SOC and that NT improves soil quality in the long-term.

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