Project
title:
The
effect of occasional tillage in no-till systems on crop yield, soil organic
matter and soil physical and biological properties
Principal
investigator:
C. Wortmann
M. Mamo
Duration: 2002 to 2006
Funding: INTSORMIL
Contact:
Charles Wortmann Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, 154 Keim Hall, Lincoln NE 68583-0915, (402)472-2909 cwortmann2@unl.edu
Martha Mamo Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL, 242 Keim Hall, Lincoln NE 68583-0915, (402)472-8493
Project description:
Preliminary research was conducted in 2002 to determine the effects of long-term tillage practices as well as occasional tillage in no-till systems on soil properties. The results demonstrate the value of no-till in improving soil properties but also that occasional tillage in no-till systems may be conducted without a significant detrimental effect. Potential benefits of occasional tillage in no-till include: reduced stratification of nutrients in the soil; an opportunity to apply and incorporate lime or manure for soil amendment; increased potential for carbon sequestration; improved long term productivity due to improved SOM and soil aggregation to greater depth of the surface soil; and alleviation of compaction and/or difficult weed problems.
Field research will begin in 2003 with the objective of evaluating the effect of one season of pre-plant tillage in an otherwise continuous no-till system on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, and on crop yield of the sorghum and soybean rotation under non-irrigated conditions.
Key results:
Total and particulate organic matter, soil aggregate stability, but not soil aggregate size, have been found to differ with plowing plus disking as compared to no-till. Total and particulate organic matter and aggregate stability were more with no-till. One season of tillage, following 15+ years of no-till, did not have detrimental effects on these properties. Further research is needed to verify the effects of occasional tillage in no-till using various tillage options.