Impacts of Conservation Tillage and Crop Residue Management on Soil Properties: A Short-Term Trial in Iran

Sakineh Mazdarani ； Mostafa Karimian Eghbal

《中華水土保持學報》 52卷3期 (2021/09) Pp. 168-175

https://doi.org/10.29417/JCSWC.202109_52(3).0005

摘要

Soil quality is the basis of agricultural production in each country. Conservation tillage systems and cover cropping methods have an immensely positive effect on physical and chemical soil characteristics which maintain the sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to assess the impact of different tillage practices on soil's physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. This research was conducted in growing season 2017-2018 in the field station in College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran. Furthermore, three files with different soil management were chosen, and some physical, chemical, and biological soil properties were determined. Different tillage systems included traditional soil management, no-tillage & cover cropping for six years, and no-tillage & cover cropping for one year. Results showed that no-tillage management had higher aggregate stability compared to traditional soil management. The quantity of organic carbon and soil microbial respiration was significantly higher in ＂no-tillage & cover cropping (for six years) management compared to other soil management systems. Due to soil moisture and nitrogen content, no significant differences were observed among different tillage systems. Managing cover crops in conservation tillage systems has a key role to improve soil water holding capacity in addition to soil erosion reduction. However, socioeconomic and environmental factors are needed to consider when making soil management decisions.

關鍵字

no-tillage ； soil properties ； sustainable agriculture