Transcript TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES

EFFECT OF TILLAGE ON
PLANT GROWTH
MUHAMMAD SARFARAZ
2008-ag-1574
WHAT IS TILLAGE
 THE
PHYSICAL MANIPULATION OF
THE SOIL FOR THE PURPOSES OF:
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Management of previous crop residues
Control of competing vegetation
Incorporation of amendments
Preparation of a seedbed
SOIL PROPERTIES AFFECTED
BY TILLAGE

Crop residue cover

Structure and aggregate stability
 Effect
 Soil
on soil moisture
water retention
 Infiltration
 Effect
on evaporation
 Effect
on soil microorganisms
 Effect
on soil nutrient uptake
SURFACE CROP RESIDUE
INTERACTS WITH OTHER FACTORS

Impact on erosion
 Cooler soils
 Conserves moisture
 Affects soil physical
properties
TILLAGE EFFECT
EROSION ON CLEAN-TILLED
GROUND
TILLAGE HAS A PROFOUND
EFFECT ON THE SOIL PHYSICAL
CONDITION
AGGREGATE STABILITY
 INFLUENCED
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Organic matter and organisms
Texture
Rotation
Tillage
 IMPORTANT
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BY
FOR:
Aeration
Water relations
Productivity
“HEALTHY” CORN ROOT MASS
TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL (0-2 IN.)
PROPERTIES
TILLAGE
STAB.
AGGR.
EARTH
WORMS
RUNOFF
%
No./m2
Mg/ha
No-till
46
78
2.1
Chisel
34
52
--
Plow
36
53
0.5
TILLAGE EFFECT ON INFILTRATION
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No-till maintains large
pores
Bare soil crusts
Infiltration varies
during season
Wheel traffic
influences infiltration
TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL
TEMPERATURE
 Cooler
temperatures associated with
high residue
 Residue buffers temperature change
 Emergence and early growth affected
 No-till systems have been shown to be
5-10% less productive
Effect on soil moisture
 Tillage
facilitates water penetration into the
soil and increase the amount of water
retained for crop use later.
 Excessive
shallow tillage operations result
in in increase compaction which restrict
root growth, air exchange, and also
creates problems in soil drainge.
Soil Water Retention
 Tillage
effects soil water retention by
changing infiltration and evaporation of
water from soil surface.
 Rough
soil surface and depressions
caused by tillage decreases runoff.s
 Effect
on Evaporation
 Evaporation
from the soil is a major
pathway of water loss created by tillage.
 Surface
roughness caused by loosening of
upper soil layer by tillage increases the
area of soil exposed to the atmoshpere
and allows greater penetration of wind.
 Effect
on soil Microorganisms
 Appropriate
tillage practices will improve
the soil structure, moisture and
temperature which ultimately increase the
number and activity of microorganisms.
STRIP TILLAGE OFFERS
AN ALTERNATIVE TO
FULL-WIDTH TILLAGE
IN-ROW RESIDUE MGT.
ZONE-TILL PLANTER
STRIP TILLAGE OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
FULL-WIDTH TILLAGE WITH CONSERVATION
AND AGRONOMIC BENEFITS
TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL
STRENGTH
 Reduced
tillage soils have higher
surface bulk density
 Short-term response to occasional
tillage
 Traffic management critical
 Subsoiling response is likely site
dependent
Compaction affects the soil
- structure
- porosity
- aeration
- strength
Plant growth affected
- root growth
- nutrient uptake
- water utilization
SUMMARY

Tillage management can greatly modify
soil properties related to soil quality and
crop growth
 Tillage intensity will impact residue
management and soil consolidation
 Many physical and chemical properties
are affected
 Better traffic and tillage management will
enhance soil quality