Effects of Tillage and Rainfall Simulation Date on Water and Soil Losses

Abstract

Time of data collection relative to recent tillage may influence results of studies comparing water and soil losses among tillage systems. In this study a rainfall simulator was used at various times during the growing season over a 4‐yr period: (i) to compare water and soil losses from conventional (moldboard plow; CN) and three conservation tillage (CT) treatments: chisel plow (CH), till‐plant (TP), and no‐till (NT) and (ii) to observe major trends in runoff volumes as a function of rainfall simulation date. Above‐ground portions of corn (Zea mays L.) plants were removed prior to rainfall simulation. Trials were conducted in September 1980, June and July 1981, October 1982, and June and July 1983. Runoff volumes for CT treatments were consistently less than those observed for CN. For CT treatments, the volume of runoff (per unit rainfall) averaged 11, 20, and 52% lower than that observed for CN for the June 1983, July 1981 and 1983, and October 1982 sampling periods, respectively. Only the CH treatment significantly reduced runoff relative to CN soon after planting. Among CT treatments, CH was significantly more effective in reducing runoff in September 1980. For the remaining sampling periods, differences among CT treatments were not significant. An increase in residue cover consistently resulted in a decrease in sediment concentrations and, most often, a decrease in soil loss. Across all sampling periods, the NT treatment consistently decreased soil loss by 80 to 90% relative to CN, while soil losses for the CH and TP treatments varied, ranging from about 45 to 90% less than those for CN. Only in September 1980 did low runoff for CH result in soil loss which was less than that observed for NT.

Residue Level and Manure Application Timing Effects on Runoff and Sediment Losses

“…For example, Baker and Laflen (1982) observed 30 and 72% less runoff from plots having 750 and 1500 kg/ha, respectively, of corn residue compared with no‐residue plots. Mostaghimi et al (1988) reported runoff reductions of 43 and 96% when levels of rye residues on no‐till plots were similar to Baker and Laflen (1982) Many others have reported similar results (Romkens et al, 1973; Andraski et al, 1985; Hansen et al, 2000; Bundy et al, 2001): as the residue cover increases, runoff amounts decrease; and each attributed at least some, if not all, of the runoff reductions to increased residue cover associated with conservation tillage.…”

“…Baker and Laflen (1982) reported a significant reduction in erosion, from 11.4 to 0.8 Mg/ha, when corn residue level was increased from 0 to 1500 kg/ha. Andraski et al (1985) noted that surface residue coverage appeared to be a dominant factor in determining soil losses among tillage systems, but that inconsistencies in losses between seasons and years suggested that other soil characteristics might also influence sediment losses. In general, our study showed that spring manure addition resulted in the lowest sediment loss.…”

Effects of phosphorus application method and rate on furrow‐irrigated ridge‐tilled grain sorghum

“…Use of conservation tillage systems has increased greatly in recent years because of their effectiveness in conserving soil and water (Cogo et al, 1984;Johnson et al, 1984;Andraski et al, 1985). Interest in ridge-tillage is also growing.…”

Cumulative effect of annually repeated passes of heavy agricultural machinery on soil structural properties and sugar beet yield under two tillage systems

“…Conservation tillage omitting annual deep ploughing is accepted to reduce water erosion (Andraski et al, 1985), to improve soil quality (Franzluebbers, 2002), to sequester carbon in soils, and thus, to alleviate global climate change (Lal et al, 1999;Freibauer et al, 2004). In the past decade, application of conservation tillage practices has considerably increased in several regions of Germany, Europe and the world (Garcia-Torres et al, 2003;Friedrich et al, 2008).…”