Management Effects on Soil Physical Properties in Long‐Term Tillage Studies in Kansas

Abstract

Five long-term tillage studies in Kansas were evaluated for changes in soil properties including soil organic carbon (SOC), water holding capacity (WHC), bulk density, and aggregate stability. The average length of time these studies have been conducted was 23 yr. Soil properties were characterized in three depth increments to 30 cm, yet changes due to tillage, N fertility, or crop rotation were found primarily in the upper 0-to 5-cm depth. Decreased tillage intensity, increased N fertilization, and crop rotations that included cereal crops had greater SOC in the 0-to 5-cm soil depth. Only one of five sites had greater WHC, which occurred in the 0-to 5-cm depth. Aggregate stability was highly correlated with SOC at all sites. No-tillage (NT) had greater bulk density, but values remained below that considered root limiting. Soil organic C levels can be modified by management that can improve aggregate stability, but greater SOC did not result in greater WHC for the majority of soils evaluated in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five long-term study sites were selected across the state of Kansas as described in Tables 1 and 2, and located in Fig. 1.

Assessing soil properties and nutrient availability under conservation agriculture practices in a reclaimed sodic soil in cereal-based systems of North-West India

“…Under this situation residues retained on soil surface did not significantly reduce BD. Similar result for soil bulk density was reported by McVay et al (2006) who found that below 3 cm soil depth BD values were only minimally affected by management practices. At lower depths under conventional tillage, higher BD might be due to the formation of a traffic pan.…”

“…At lower depths under conventional tillage, higher BD might be due to the formation of a traffic pan. Higher BD at surface soil of Sc3 and Sc4 than Sc2 might be due to machine induced compaction (McVay et al 2006). Soils higher in SOC are not prone to compaction, which may help explain why so little change in bulk density occurred at the CA-based scenarios (McVay et al 2006).…”

“…Higher BD at surface soil of Sc3 and Sc4 than Sc2 might be due to machine induced compaction (McVay et al 2006). Soils higher in SOC are not prone to compaction, which may help explain why so little change in bulk density occurred at the CA-based scenarios (McVay et al 2006). The highest decrease in BD in soil depths under Sc2 in comparison to Sc1 is attributed to increase in soil organic matter content, increase in activities of soil micro-and macro-organisms and improved aggregation due to well mixing of residues with soil particles (Singh and Sidhu 2014).…”

Management of crop water under drought: a review

“…However, the crop effect was not stable over time and no long-term crop rotation effects could be demonstrated. McVay et al (2006) reported effects of tillage and crop rotation from five trials in a continental climate in Kansas, USA, all having silt loam soils. Changes were found only in the upper soil layer from 0 to 5 cm.…”

Effect of cutting regime on soil physical properties of wet thistle meadows

“…The impact of organic matter on aggregation is greater in soils containing less than 25% clay, while in soils containing more than 35% clay the correlation is less significant. Li and Shao (2006), Quiroga et al (1998) and McVay et al (2006) showed that increased porosity and decreased bulk density occurred as a result of increased content of soil organic matter and aggregate stability. Soil physical properties are also affected by parent rock and terrain incline (Breuer et al 2006).…”