Long-Term Trial of Tillage Systems for Sugarcane: Effect on Topsoil Hydrophysical Attributes

Abstract

Seeking to provide essential information about sustainable tillage systems, this work aimed to assess the effects of liming and soil cultivation systems on the soil hydrophysical attributes of a long-term cultivated sugarcane field in the tropical region of southeast Brazil. Infiltration tests and soil sampling down to 0.10 m were performed in order to determine saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, soil bulk density, soil total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, and soil resistance to penetration. The studied areas include no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems with 0 (CT0 and NT0) and 4 (CT4 and NT4) Mg ha−1 of lime, and an adjoining area with native forest (NF). The data analysis included an analysis of variance followed by the Tukey test to compare different systems, assessment of the Pearson correlation coefficient between variables, and a principal component analysis of the dataset. The lowest bulk density and highest soil total porosity, macroporosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity were found in the NF. The bulk density in CT4 and NT0 was higher than in other systems, indicating the need for amelioration. NT4 is suggested as the most viable system for conservation agriculture in sugarcane fields, combining the benefits of no-tillage and liming to enhance soil hydrophysical functions.

Soil tillage systems and forms of lime application on soil attribute enhancements in ratoon sugarcane

“…These SPR values may reflect the beneficial effect of liming on SOC content. In addition, increased pH stimulates microbial activity and greater stabilization of soil aggregates (Franco et al, 2020; Martíni et al, 2021).…”

Soil physical quality response to management systems in a long‐term sugarcane trial

“…Such outcome is a result of no soil disturbance from tillage, thus macroaggregates are not broken‐up, combined with the maintenance of crop residues from harvesting on the soil surface, which reduces the pressure from machinery traffic onto the soil, cushioning the applied pressure load, avoiding changes in aggregates size and shape, as well as in the soil bulk density and porosity. Furthermore, the maintenance of crop residues from harvesting on the soil surface promotes soil organic carbon inputs, boosting the soil's fauna activity, contributing to aggregate formation and stabilization, thus improving soil structural quality (Awe et al, 2020; Barbosa et al, 2019; Martíni et al, 2021). However, such outcome was not noted in the treatment NT0.…”

“…However, recent studies show that soil tillage may negatively affect soil physical properties related to soil structure, such as porosity, bulk density, resistance to penetration, and aggregate stability (Canisares et al, 2019;Carpenedo & Mielniczuk, 1990;Cavalcanti et al, 2020;Pires et al, 2017), affecting, thus, related soil processes, as hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention, carbon sequestration, soil erosion (Awe et al, 2020;da Luz et al, 2020;Martíni et al, 2021;Scarpare et al, 2019), and nutrient leaching. Furthermore, tilled soils are more prone to soil recompaction due to machinery traffic .…”

“…No-tillage (NT) is an excellent alternative to mitigate the degradation of soil structural quality (Barbosa et al, 2019;Blanco-Canqui & Ruis, 2018;Martíni et al, 2020Martíni et al, , 2021Pires et al, 2017) as it values minimal soil disturbance (only in the sowing row) and maintains at least 30% of the soil surface covered (Denardin et al, 2012). Moreover, it promotes a higher nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, higher biological activity, reduces soil water losses, protects the soil from erosion, and, consequently, increases the system's mediumand long-term productivity (Crittenden et al, 2015;Miura et al, 2013;Pittelkow et al, 2015;Prove et al, 1995;Segnini et al, 2013;Silvia et al, 2014;Sousa et al, 2012;Surendran et al, 2016;Tenelli et al, 2019).…”

“…This system makes use of soil tillage through plowing, harrowing and subsoiling operations for planting and reforming sugarcane fields, which aim to reduce soil compaction, incorporate lime and fertilizers, control pests, and for soil leveling (Barbosa, 2013). However, recent studies show that soil tillage may negatively affect soil physical properties related to soil structure, such as porosity, bulk density, resistance to penetration, and aggregate stability (Canisares et al, 2019; Carpenedo & Mielniczuk, 1990; Cavalcanti et al, 2020; Cherubin, Karlen, Franco, Tormena, et al, 2016; Pires et al, 2017), affecting, thus, related soil processes, as hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention, carbon sequestration, soil erosion (Awe et al, 2020; Cherubin, Karlen, Franco, Tormena, et al, 2016; da Luz et al, 2020; Martíni et al, 2021; Scarpare et al, 2019), and nutrient leaching. Furthermore, tilled soils are more prone to soil recompaction due to machinery traffic (Cherubin, Karlen, Franco, Tormena, et al, 2016).…”