Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

2017 Annual Meeting | Oct. 22-25 | Tampa, FL

181-12 Conservation Tillage and Soil Physical Environment.

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Agricultural Practices to Enhance Nitrogen-Use Efficiency and Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Oral

Tuesday, October 24, 2017: 11:00 AM
Tampa Convention Center, Room 24

Sabrina Ruis, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Dept of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE and Paul Jasa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Abstract:
Conservation tillage system effects on soil C sequestration, soil fertility, and crop yields have been widely discussed, but its impacts on the soil physical environment have not been specifically discussed. Thus, an improved understanding of conservation tillage systems on soil physical quality, which influence agronomic productivity and environmental quality is needed. The objective of this review is to synthesize published data on conservation tillage systems as compared with conventional tillage systems on soil physical properties and highlight gaps in our current understanding. Conservation tillage, in general, increases bulk density and penetration resistance compared to conventional tillage. The few studies on strip till suggest that this system can reduce both bulk density and penetration resistance compared to no-till. One of the soil properties that is consistently improved by no-till is wet aggregate stability. On average, conservation tillage increases wet aggregate stability by about 70% compared to conventional tillage. Conservation tillage has mixed effects on water infiltration, water retention, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. However, soil water retention generally improves or remains unchanged in most studies with conservation tillage. Soil temperature generally decreases with conservation tillage in spring, summer, and fall. Few studies exist evaluating the effects of strip till on soil physical properties compared to no-till or conventional tillage practices. Overall, conservation tillage can improve soil structural stability and have inconsistent effects on soil hydraulic properties.

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Agricultural Practices to Enhance Nitrogen-Use Efficiency and Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Oral