Soil food webs and carbon dynamics in response to conservation tillage in California
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Published source details
Minoshima H., Jackson L.E., Cavagnaro T.R., Sanchez-Moreno S., Ferris H., Temple S.R., Goyal S. & Mitchell J.P. (2007) Soil food webs and carbon dynamics in response to conservation tillage in California. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 71, 952-963.
Published source details Minoshima H., Jackson L.E., Cavagnaro T.R., Sanchez-Moreno S., Ferris H., Temple S.R., Goyal S. & Mitchell J.P. (2007) Soil food webs and carbon dynamics in response to conservation tillage in California. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 71, 952-963.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Crop production: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link |
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Soil: Use no tillage in arable fields Action Link |
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Crop production: Use no tillage in arable fields
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2003–2004 in an irrigated field in Davis, California, USA, found lower crop yields in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Crop yield: Lower chickpea yields were found in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in one of two comparisons (with continuous cropping: 25 vs 193 g dry weight/m2). Methods: No tillage or conventional tillage was used on six plots each (67 x 4.7 m plots, three beds/plot). All plots had Cicer arietinum chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in rotation with other crops. Crop residues were incorporated to 20 cm depth, and the beds were shaped, on plots with conventional tillage (disk, lister, and ring roller). Crop residues were flail mown and spread on the plots with no tillage. All plots were fertilized in 2003, but not thereafter (112 kg P/ha phosphorous, 50 kg NPK/ha, and 67 kg N/ha). Cultivation was used to control weeds on plots with conventional tillage. Hand weeding was used on plots with no tillage. Herbicide was used on all plots. Some plots were irrigated. Chickpeas were harvested on 28 June 2004.
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Soil: Use no tillage in arable fields
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2003–2004 in irrigated farmland in Davis, California, USA, found more organic matter and phosphorus in soils with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Tillage had inconsistent effects on potassium. Organic matter: More carbon was found in soils with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in one of two comparisons (in rotations with fallows: 4 vs 3.8 kg total C/m2). Nutrients: Similar amounts of nitrogen were found in plots with no tillage or conventional tillage (450–460 g total N/m2). More potassium was found in soils with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in two of six comparisons (10.3–12.9 vs 6–7.7 mg K/litre), but less was found in one of twelve comparisons (4.8 vs 6.3 mg/L). More phosphorous was found in plots with no tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in one of six comparisons (27 vs 19 mg P/kg soil). Similar pH levels were found in soils with no tillage or conventional tillage (pH 6.8–7.3). Soil organisms: Similar amounts of microbial and nematode biomass (both measured as carbon) were found in plots with no tillage or conventional tillage (60–80 vs 60 g microbial C/m2; 0.1–0.2 vs 0.2–0.25 g nematode C/m2). Methods: No tillage or conventional tillage was used on six plots each (67 x 4.7 m plots, three beds/plot). Crop residues were incorporated to 20 cm depth, and the beds were shaped, on plots with conventional tillage (disk, lister, and ring roller). Crop residues were flail mown and spread on the plots with no tillage. All plots were fertilized in 2003, but not thereafter (112 kg P/ha phosphorous, 50 kg NPK/ha, and 67 kg N/ha). Cultivation was used to control weeds on plots with conventional tillage. Hand weeding was used on plots with no tillage. Herbicide was used on all plots. Some plots were irrigated. Soil samples were collected in December 2003, and June, September, and December 2004 (0–30 cm depth, three samples/plot).
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