Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

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

107586 Effect of Long-Term (35 years) No-till and Conventional Tillage Systems on Soil Quality.

Poster Number 1451

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Land Management and Conservation
See more from this Session: Soil Health for Agroecosystems Poster (includes student competition)

Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Tampa Convention Center, East Exhibit Hall

Prabhu Govindasamy1, Jake E. Mowrer2, Tony L. Provin3, Frank M. Hons4, Nithya Rajan5 and Muthu Bagavathiannan5, (1)Soil and crop sciences, Texas A&M university, College Station, TX
(2)Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, College Station, TX
(3)Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas Agrilife Extension Service, College Station, TX
(4)Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
(5)Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Poster Presentation
  • Prabhu poster-V2.pdf (1.2 MB)
  • Abstract:
    A long-term tillage systems experiment was initiated in 1982 at Texas A&M University research farm near College Station, Texas (300 37’ 16.8” N, 960 32’47.2” W), to understand the long-term impact of tillage practices on soil quality (C mineralization and CO2 emissions). Two tillage regimes were compared in continuous sorghum production: conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT). Results showed that C-mineralization was significantly greater (50 g kg-1 of soil greater) in the soils of NT system compared to that of CT system at 0-5 cm soil depth. However, this trend was reversed at 10-20 cm depth (33 g kg-1 of soil greater in the CT compared to NT). This might be due to the presence of small soil aggregates as well as the transport of soil carbon to the lower layers due to mechanical soil inversion in the CT system. Soil organic carbon (%) and organic matter (%) were significantly greater in NT system compared to CT system at 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20 cm soil depths. This might be due to the retention of crop residues and lack of soil inversion in NT system, resulting in improved soil organic carbon as well as organic matter content. Soil CO2 flux was measured in the field after crop harvest. Preliminary results showed that tillage induced CO2 emissions were greater in the CT system (5.69 g m-2 CO2 day-1) than in the NT system (4.33 g m-2 CO2 day-1). Results provide evidence that long-term conservation tillage practices improve soil health and sustainability.

    See more from this Division: ASA Section: Land Management and Conservation
    See more from this Session: Soil Health for Agroecosystems Poster (includes student competition)

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