How does tillage intensity affect chemical soil health indicators? A United States meta‐analysis

Nunes, Márcio Renato; Karlen, Douglas L.; Cambardella, Cynthia A.

doi:10.1002/agg2.20083

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Soil pH did not differ among cultivated fields and averaged 6.31, but pH was found to be significantly lower in hayfields (5.90) (Supporting Information: Table ). In earlier studies, soil pH was found to be the lowest under NT systems (Dick, 1983), but a recent meta‐analysis (Nunes, Karlen, Moorman, et al, 2020) of tillage effects on soil chemical properties found no pattern of decreasing soil pH under NT systems. These silt loam soils are naturally acidic, and cultivated fields receive regular inputs of lime to maintain a pH above 6.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Using the measured soil properties of TC, TN, SOM and BD, boxplots according to tillage at the 0–15 cm soil depth (Figure 2) revealed large differences between hayfields and tilled fields; however, there was little difference among the tilled fields. A meta‐analysis of tillage types by Nunes, Kurlen, Moorman et al (2020) determined that perennial systems such as hayfields increase TN in surface soil (0–15 cm) compared to MP after more than 2 years. At the deeper soil depth, boxplots (Figure 2) revealed similar concentrations of SOM, TC and TN between hayfields and MP, while NT soils had the lowest amounts.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of manure and tillage on soil carbon and soil organic matter in silt loam soils of corn–soybean–forage systems

Bridges

Das

Neikirk

et al. 2023

J of Sust Agri & Env

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IntroductionAn increasing number of farms in Northeast Ohio are being managed under reduced or conservation tillage practices, while those under conventional or intensive tillage are decreasing. Additionally, the use of on‐site farm manure among the growers is commonplace. Therefore, it is important to understand how the various management practices of these farms are impacting soil health, soil carbon stocks and crop yields.Materials and MethodsThis on‐farm study takes place in the temperate climate of the midwestern United States on a silt loam soil. It focuses on the impact of tillage (mouldboard plough [MP], vertical/chisel tillage [VT] and no‐tillage [NT]) and fertilizer (manure included or not) management practices on soil properties. Twelve agriculture fields and two woodland sites, for reference, on Canfield silt loam soils were selected for assessment in this project. Corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) rotations and mixed forage Hayfields were the crops considered. Crop yields at each farm along with soil organic matter (SOM), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), bulk density, pH, soil test phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) were assessed at two depths, 0–15 and 15–30 cm. Results of the first 2 years of the study (2020 and 2021) are presented here.ResultsAt the surface soil depth (0–15 cm), TC content was not different among cultivated fields (36 Mg ha−1), but was significantly less than Hayfields, which had the same amount of TC as the wood sites (58 Mg ha−1). There was no significant difference in soil test P, K or S due to tillage. Analysis of variance revealed no statistical difference due to fertilizer. At the soil surface depth, principal component analysis, supported by analysis of similarities (ANOSIM), determined that measurements of TC, TN and SOM distinguished a difference in Hayfields compared to cultivated fields (R‐statistic = 0.33; p = 0.001), but little difference when the 15–30 cm soil depth was considered (R‐statistic = 0.17; p = 0.001). ANOSIM also determined a slightly significant (R‐statistic = 0.065; p = 0.031) difference in fertilizer at the deeper soil depth. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between SOM and corn grain yield (r = 0.59) and TN and corn grain yield (r = 0.39).ConclusionsThere was no significant loss of TC among increasing tillage intensities possibly due to the inclusion of manure fertilizer in tilled fields even though there were only slight statistical differences between fields that utilized manure and those that did not. The use of manure was not detrimental in terms of soil test P for most farms, but should be used judiciously. Inclusion of perennial crops such as hay in rotation with crop production can improve TC and TN content. Finally, increasing SOM could potentially increase corn grain yield, but no causal relationship has been determined yet.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of manure and tillage on soil carbon and soil organic matter in silt loam soils of corn–soybean–forage systems

Bridges

Das

Neikirk

et al. 2023

J of Sust Agri & Env

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“…Tillage also influences soil chemical fertility but often not exactly in the way it was intended. Notably, it has been observed that topsoil total N, P, and K concentrations decrease, particularly under the harsher tillage operations in comparison to no tillage, as a metaanalysis by Nunes et al has shown [196]. This effect on the primary nutrients is explained because tillage expedites SOM oxidation, thus boosting nutrient release in plant-available forms, which are, nevertheless, also more easily lost by leaching and gas emission [197] whether the adequate conditions are met, which it seems the most likely [196].…”

Section: Tillage and Soil Health In Vineyardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Health of Vineyard Soils: Towards a Sustainable Viticulture

Visconti,

López,

Olego

2024

Horticulturae

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Soil health encompasses the effects the uppermost part of the land have on human wellbeing in a broad sense, because soil is where most food ultimately comes from, and because it more inconspicuously fulfils other ecological functions, as important as feeding, for our planet’s welfare, which is ours. Viticulture exploits the soil’s resources from which wine, its most valuable produce, boasts to obtain some of its unique quality traits, which are wrapped within the terroir concept. However, using conventional methods, viticulture also has harsh impacts on the soil, thus jeopardizing its sustainability. How long will the terroir expression remain unchanged as vineyard soil degradation goes on? While this question is difficult to answer because of the complex nature of terroirs, it is undeniable that conventional soil management practices in viticulture leave, in general, ample room for improvement, in their impact on vineyards as much as on the environment. In response, viticulture must adopt practices that enable the long-lasting preservation of its grounds for both on-farm and off-farm benefits. In this regard, the increase in the soil’s organic matter alongside the enhancement of the soil’s biological community are key because they benefit many other soil properties of a physical, chemical, and biological nature, thus determining the soil’s healthy functioning, where the vines may thrive for a long time, whereas its surroundings remain minimally disturbed. In the present review, the importance of soil health as it relates to vineyards is discussed, the soil degradation factors and processes that threaten winegrowing areas are presented, successful soil-health enhancement practices are shown, and future research trends are identified for the benefit of researchers and stakeholders in this special agricultural industry.

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