The effect of different tillage systems under organic management on soil quality indicators
Plant Production Research Centre – Research Institute of Plant Production Piešťany,Bratislavská cesta 122, 921 68 Piešťany, Slovak Republic, lehocka@vurv.sk
Abstract:
Abstract: The aim of this study was to adapt reduced tillage to organic farming. The effect of tillage by plough (TP) versus tillage by chisel (TS) on selected soil quality indicators was quantified. The experiment was initiated in 2006 on a loam degraded Chernozem on loess in Borovce (near Piešťany) in the western part of the Slovak Republic. The report focuses on the conversion period and investigates changes during the years 2007 and 2008 while tillage intensity was reduced. Soil samples were taken from the depth of 0–30 cm and analysed for soil reaction (pH), soil organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Nt), microbial biomass (Cmic), number of cellulolytic bacteria, earthworm density and biomass. All measured parameters increased in both tillage systems between 2007 and 2008, except Cmic in the TP system. The increase for all parameters was the strongest in the TS system. However only for Cmic (*P < 0.05), earthworm density and biomass (**P < 0.01) the differences between TP and TS were significant.
Key words:
different tillage systems, organic management, soil quality indicators