Characteristics of carbon mineralization and accumulation under long-term conservation tillage

Conservation tillage has been widely practiced to increase soil organic carbon (SOC), and reducing SOC mineralization has the potential to improve accumulation. To assess the effects of conservation tillage on characteristics of SOC mineralization and accumulation, as well as their relationship, a site experiment was established in 2008 using data from 2012 to 2019 under wheat-maize cropping system. Four treatments were investigated: no-till with straw retention (NTS, conservation tillage), no-till with straw removal (NT), conventional tillage with straw incorporation (CTS), conventional tillage with straw removal (CT). The results showed that NTS significantly improved SOC concentration than the other treatments at 0-10 cm soil depth (P 1 and showed a linear relationship with time, indicating that NTS can increase SOC accumulation by reducing SOC mineralizability over time. A negative correlation was observed between SOC mineralizability and mean weight diameter (MWD) (R-2=-0.34), and the highest MWD under NTS, suggesting reduced mineralizability due to enhanced physical protection of soil macroaggregates. Furthermore, the particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration was highly correlated with MWD (R-2 = 0.76). Conclusively, results elucidated that higher POC under conservation tillage contributed to the macro-aggregate formation and aggregate stability at 0-10 cm depth, and thus protected SOC from mineralization, and additional SOC sequestration could be accelerated by improving the duration of conservation tillage

Strategic tillage in conservation agricultural systems of north-eastern Australia: why, where, when and how?

Farmers often resort to an occasional tillage (strategic tillage (ST)) operation to combat constraints of no-tillage (NT) farming systems. There are conflicting reports regarding impacts of ST and a lack of knowledge around when, where and how ST is implemented to maximise its benefits without impacting negatively on soil and environment. We established 14 experiments during 2012–2015 on farms with long-term history of continuous NT to (i) quantify the associated risks and benefits to crop productivity, soil and environmental health and (ii) explore key factors that need to be considered in decisions to implement ST in an otherwise NT system. Results showed that introduction of ST reduced weed populations and improved crop productivity and profitability in the first year after tillage, with no impact in subsequent 4 years. Soil properties were not impacted in Vertosols; however, Sodosols and Dermosols suffered short-term negative soil health impacts (e.g. increased bulk density). A Sodosol and a Dermosol also posed higher risks of runoff and associated loss of nutrients and sediment during intense rainfall after ST. The ST reduced plant available water in the short term, which could result in unreliable sowing opportunities for the following crop especially in semi-arid climate that prevails in north-eastern Australia. The results show that generally, there were no significant differences in crop productivity and soil health between tillage implements and tillage frequencies between ST and NT. The study suggests that ST can be a viable strategy to manage constraints of NT systems, with few short-term soil and environmental costs and some benefits such as short-term farm productivity and profitability and reduced reliance on herbicides

Strategic tillage in conservation agricultural systems of north-eastern Australia: why, where, when and how?

Farmers often resort to an occasional tillage (strategic tillage (ST)) operation to combat constraints of no-tillage (NT) farming systems. There are conflicting reports regarding impacts of ST and a lack of knowledge around when, where and how ST is implemented to maximise its benefits without impacting negatively on soil and environment. We established 14 experiments during 2012–2015 on farms with long-term history of continuous NT to (i) quantify the associated risks and benefits to crop productivity, soil and environmental health and (ii) explore key factors that need to be considered in decisions to implement ST in an otherwise NT system. Results showed that introduction of ST reduced weed populations and improved crop productivity and profitability in the first year after tillage, with no impact in subsequent 4 years. Soil properties were not impacted in Vertosols; however, Sodosols and Dermosols suffered short-term negative soil health impacts (e.g. increased bulk density). A Sodosol and a Dermosol also posed higher risks of runoff and associated loss of nutrients and sediment during intense rainfall after ST. The ST reduced plant available water in the short term, which could result in unreliable sowing opportunities for the following crop especially in semi-arid climate that prevails in north-eastern Australia. The results show that generally, there were no significant differences in crop productivity and soil health between tillage implements and tillage frequencies between ST and NT. The study suggests that ST can be a viable strategy to manage constraints of NT systems, with few short-term soil and environmental costs and some benefits such as short-term farm productivity and profitability and reduced reliance on herbicides