Soybean Tillage Systems and Physical Changes in Surface Layers of Two Albaqualf Soils

Abstract

ABSTRACT:A compacted subsurface soil layer can be a limiting factor for soybean growing, reducing soybean yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different tillage systems on the physical properties of two Albaqualf soils of the Central Plains region in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. Two experiments were conducted: one in Santa Maria, RS, during the 2013/14 and 2014/15 crop seasons, and another in Formigueiro, RS, during the 2013/14 crop season. A randomized block experimental design with four replications was used. The treatments were: sowing using an offset double disc (T1); sowing using a fluted coulter disc (wavy disc with 12 waves) (T2); sowing with a knife runner opener (T3); sowing with a knife runner opener + press wheel mechanism for ground levelling (T4); sowing using a furrow opener upon a raised bed (T5); and chisel plough + sowing using an offset double-disc (T6). In the 2014/15 growing season, the T4 factor was changed using a knife runner opener 0.05 m from the planting row. A smaller reduction in the compacted subsurface soil layer was observed for both T1 and T2, which exhibited high soil bulk density values for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 crop seasons. Furthermore, T3, T5 and T6 led to a reduction in bulk density, and increasing total porosity and macroporosity in the soil, which consequently increased water infiltration, water storage capacity, and crop yield in areas with the presence of a compacted subsurface soil layer.

Improving irrigation, crop, and soil management for sustainable soybean production in Southern Brazilian lowlands

“…Lowlands have been used for irrigated rice (Oryza sativa) production for more than a century in southern Brazil due to their favorable features, such as low water infiltration and macroporosity in the soil layer near the surface (Sartori et al, 2016;Denardin et al, 2019). In the southern region of Rio Grande do Sul State (RS), lowlands cover almost 6.5 million ha (Miura et al, 2015) of which 1 million ha are annually cultivated with flooded rice (Conab, 2020).…”

“…The soil physical properties that favor paddy fields can increase the risk of either soil water excess or deficit by limiting soil aeration and water availability, decreasing soybean yields in lowlands (Gubiani et al, 2018). Therefore, cultivation strategies, such as soil chiseling, raised-seedbed or the use of furrow opener at the row planter (Sartori et al, 2016;Giacomeli et al, 2017) may create better conditions for soybean development, improving its yields close to the gains achieved in uplands.…”

Adaptability and Stability of Soybean Cultivars in Lowland Production System

“…Adaptability is the ability of a cultivar to respond positively to environmental stimulus and stability is the ability of a cultivar to exhibit a performance as constant as possible, due to variations in the environmental conditions and interaction environmental exhibit optimal agronomic traits and yield potentials (Song et al, 2019). Recently, studies have been carried out on soybean production system in lowland conditions, seeking to know the diversity of the response between cultivars at water stress (Da Rocha et al, 2017;Henry et al, 2018), adaptation of agricultural implements to this cropping system (Sartori et al, 2016b), plant development and grain yield (Zanon et al, 2015;Zanon et Rev. Ceres, Viçosa, v. 69, n.5, p. 506-512, sep/oct, 2022.…”

Irrigation Water Management Techniques for Lowland Furrow-Irrigated Soybean in Southern Brazil

“…The soybean cultivation in lowland fields of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, which was traditionally used for irrigated rice, is a recent growing phenomenon driven mainly by the need for diversification. The yield capacity of these areas declined owing to the monoculture of rice, which has caused troublesome weed infestation, among other factors (Sartori et al, 2016). Therefore, efficient weed control and better market conditions, as provided by crop rotation with soybean, highlight the importance of this practice for the technical and economic sustainability of lowlands (Marchesan, 2016;Bortoluzzi et al, 2017) However, some adjustments should be made in these areas before the introduction of soybean, because the areas are inappropriate for this crop production in varying degrees (Vernetti Junior et al, 2009;Bueno et al, 2020).…”

“…The use of raised seedbed crop system to improve poor drainage in lowlands has been recently reported (Gollo et al, 2020;Cassol et al, 2020). Raised seedbeds also improves the physical characteristics of the soil and allows the use of a furrow irrigation system (Sartori et al, 2015;Giacomeli et al, 2016;Sartori et al, 2016).…”