Tag Archives: soil physical properties

280–289 K. Tamm, E. Nugis, L. Edesi, E. Lauringson, L. Talgre, P. Viil, T. Plakk, T. Võsav, R. Vettik and P. Penu
Impact of cultivation method on the soil properties in cereal production
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Impact of cultivation method on the soil properties in cereal production

K. Tamm¹*, E. Nugis¹, L. Edesi¹, E. Lauringson³, L. Talgre³, P. Viil¹, T. Plakk¹, T. Võsav, R. Vettik¹ and P. Penu²

¹Estonian Crop Research Institute, J.Aamisepa 1, EE48309 Jõgeva, Jõgeva Vald, Estonia
²Agricultural Research Centre, Teaduse 4/6, EE75501 Saku, Estonia
³Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, EE51014 Tartu 4, Estonia
*Correspondence: kalvi.tamm@etki.ee

Abstract:

The aim of present paper is to give an overview about results collected in 2012–2014 related to impact of cultivation method on the cereal field soil properties. Experiments were conducted on Estonian farmers’ production fields to compare no-till and plough-based tillage practices. Studied properties were among others soil bulk density, structure, water content, microbial activity and weeds seeds content.
The bulk density, gravimetric moisture content and structure of soil from 0–10, 10–20 and 20–30 cm layers were evaluated. For microbial activity an enzyme  dehydrogenase, which occurs in all viable microbial cells, was determined in soil layers 0–10 and 10–20 cm. Soil samples were taken from 0–25 cm layer to determine weed seeds content. Seeds were extracted from the soil using a flotation-method. The seeds were counted and species identified under the microscope.
The cultivation method has significant impact on some soil properties and insignificant to other. Cultivation method had no significant impact on ratio of agronomically preferred soil particles (2–4.75 mm). No-tilled fields soil bulk density had no differences between layers except 0–10 layer in Pärnumaa (p < 0.05). Soil bulk density differences (p < 0.05) between layers occurred in Soth-Viljandimaa and Pärnumaa tilled soils, in which plough pan in layer 20–30 cm was noticeable.
In average the abundance of weeds seeds was higher on no-tilled fields, compared to tillage accordingly 60,975 and 29,250 weed seeds m-2 (p < 0.003). Results showed higher soil dehydrogenase activity in the no-tilled soils layer 0–10 cm than in 10–20 cm layer (p < 0.05). In the tillage the dehydrogenase activity had no significant difference between soil layers.

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439-444 A. Velykis, A. Satkus
Role of amendments in modifying clayey soil physical properties under conventional and reduced tillage in northern Lithuania
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Role of amendments in modifying clayey soil physical properties under conventional and reduced tillage in northern Lithuania

A. Velykis, A. Satkus

Joniskelis Experimental Station, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture andForestry, Joniskelis, LT-39301 Pasvalys District, Lithuania;e–mail: velykisalex@gmail.com

Abstract:

Investigations to improve clayey soil physical properties and conditions for applying reduced tillage to spring crops were carried out at Joniskelis Experimental Station of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in a glacial lacustrine clay loam on silty clay soil with deeper-lying sandy loam (Endocalcari–Endohypogleyic Cambisol). Amendments for soil improvement were the following: farmyard manure – 60 t ha-1, green manure – 27 t ha-1 and lime mud – 10 t ha-1 were incorporated by a mouldboard and segment plough at 0.25 and 0.40 m depths for winter crops twice every third year. Conventional mouldboard ploughing at 0.25 m and reduced ploughless tillage at 0.25 and 0.15 m depths was applied to spring crops after incorporation of amendments. The incorporation of amendments resulted in the decrease of soil bulk density, improvement of soil aeration and water conductivity. Ploughing by a segment plough, especially with incorporation of amendments, improved the subsoil physical properties and water conductivity. However, the segment ploughing resulted in a worsening of topsoil properties due to mixing the subsoil layer with topsoil. Lime mud was more effective for subsoil improvement. Reduced ploughless tillage determined the decrease of soil porosity, worsening the soil structure and seedbed quality. Incorporation of amendments, especially farmyard manure, helps to avoid or lessens the negative effect of reduced tillage on the clayey soil physical condition and on the decrease of the spring crop yield.

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349-357 D. Šimanskaitė
The impact of soil tillage minimization on sandy light loam soil
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The impact of soil tillage minimization on sandy light loam soil

D. Šimanskaitė

Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, Instituto al. 1, Akademija, Kėdainiai district, Lithuania;e-mail: dana@lzi.lt

Abstract:

Experiments conducted during the period 2001–2005 at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture, were designed to evaluate the effects of plough and ploughless soil tillage and methods of sowing on an Endocalcari-Endohypogleyic Cambisol and to estimate their effects on soil physical properties and cereal yield. The experiment was set up in 2001 after pea harvesting. Our experimental evidence suggests that different soil tillage and sowing methods had a significant effect on soil structure, soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance, total and air-filled porosity, soil moisture and yield. In cereal crop rotation when winter wheat had been direct drilled after peas into minimally tilled soil the yield increased by 9.7%, when it had been direct drilled the yield tended to increase, compared with conventional soil tillage; the spring barley yield was 14.7% and 7.9% lower compared with conventional tillage; when it had been direct drilled the yield tended to increase compared with conventional tillage. When oats were direct drilled a non-significant yield reduction trend was observed, and when sown into minimally tilled soil the yield was similar (5.77 t ha-1) to that produced in the conventional soil tillage treatment (5.84 t ha-1). When peas were grown, both these simplified tillage methods significantly declined the yield, when peas were direct drilled, the yield declined by 44.0% and by 21.7% when drilled into minimally tilled soil by a direct drill.

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