EFFECT OF TILLAGE ON EFFECT OF TILLAGE ON PLANT GROWTHPLANT GROWTH

MUHAMMAD SARFARAZMUHAMMAD SARFARAZ

2008-ag-15742008-ag-1574

WHAT IS TILLAGEWHAT IS TILLAGE

THE PHYSICAL MANIPULATION OF THE PHYSICAL MANIPULATION OF THE SOIL FOR THE PURPOSES OF:THE SOIL FOR THE PURPOSES OF: Management of previous crop residuesManagement of previous crop residues Control of competing vegetationControl of competing vegetation Incorporation of amendmentsIncorporation of amendments Preparation of a seedbedPreparation of a seedbed

SOIL PROPERTIES AFFECTED SOIL PROPERTIES AFFECTED BY TILLAGEBY TILLAGE

Crop residue coverCrop residue cover

Structure and aggregate stabilityStructure and aggregate stability

Effect on soil moistureEffect on soil moisture

Soil water retentionSoil water retention

InfiltrationInfiltration

Effect on evaporationEffect on evaporation

Effect on soil microorganismsEffect on soil microorganisms

Effect on soil nutrient uptakeEffect on soil nutrient uptake

SURFACE CROP RESIDUE SURFACE CROP RESIDUE INTERACTS WITH OTHER FACTORSINTERACTS WITH OTHER FACTORS

Impact on erosionImpact on erosion Cooler soilsCooler soils Conserves moistureConserves moisture Affects soil physical Affects soil physical

propertiesproperties

TILLAGE EFFECTTILLAGE EFFECTEROSION ON CLEAN-TILLED EROSION ON CLEAN-TILLED GROUNDGROUND

TILLAGE HAS A PROFOUND TILLAGE HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE SOIL PHYSICAL EFFECT ON THE SOIL PHYSICAL CONDITIONCONDITION

AGGREGATE STABILITYAGGREGATE STABILITY

INFLUENCED BYINFLUENCED BY Organic matter and organismsOrganic matter and organisms TextureTexture RotationRotation TillageTillage

IMPORTANT FOR:IMPORTANT FOR: AerationAeration Water relationsWater relations ProductivityProductivity

““HEALTHY” CORN ROOT MASSHEALTHY” CORN ROOT MASS

TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL (0-2 IN.) TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL (0-2 IN.) PROPERTIESPROPERTIES

TILLAGETILLAGE STAB.STAB.

AGGR.AGGR.

EARTH EARTH WORMSWORMS

RUNOFFRUNOFF

%% No./mNo./m22 Mg/haMg/ha

No-tillNo-till 4646 7878 2.12.1

ChiselChisel 3434 5252 ----

PlowPlow 3636 5353 0.50.5

TILLAGE EFFECT ON INFILTRATIONTILLAGE EFFECT ON INFILTRATION

No-till maintains large No-till maintains large porespores

Bare soil crustsBare soil crusts Infiltration varies Infiltration varies

during seasonduring season Wheel traffic Wheel traffic

influences infiltrationinfluences infiltration

TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL TEMPERATURETEMPERATURE

Cooler temperatures associated with Cooler temperatures associated with high residuehigh residue

Residue buffers temperature changeResidue buffers temperature change Emergence and early growth affectedEmergence and early growth affected No-till systems have been shown to be No-till systems have been shown to be

5-10% less productive5-10% less productive

Effect on soil moistureEffect on soil moisture

Tillage facilitates water penetration into the Tillage facilitates water penetration into the soil and increase the amount of water soil and increase the amount of water retained for crop use later.retained for crop use later.

Excessive shallow tillage operations result Excessive shallow tillage operations result in in increase compaction which restrict in in increase compaction which restrict root growth, air exchange, and also root growth, air exchange, and also creates problems in soil drainge. creates problems in soil drainge.

Soil Water RetentionSoil Water Retention

Tillage effects soil water retention by Tillage effects soil water retention by changing infiltration and evaporation of changing infiltration and evaporation of water from soil surface.water from soil surface.

Rough soil surface and depressions Rough soil surface and depressions caused by tillage decreases runoff.scaused by tillage decreases runoff.s

Effect on EvaporationEffect on Evaporation

Evaporation from the soil is a major Evaporation from the soil is a major pathway of water loss created by tillage.pathway of water loss created by tillage.

Surface roughness caused by loosening of Surface roughness caused by loosening of upper soil layer by tillage increases the upper soil layer by tillage increases the area of soil exposed to the atmoshpere area of soil exposed to the atmoshpere and allows greater penetration of wind.and allows greater penetration of wind.

Effect on soil MicroorganismsEffect on soil Microorganisms

Appropriate tillage practices will improve Appropriate tillage practices will improve the soil structure, moisture and the soil structure, moisture and temperature which ultimately increase the temperature which ultimately increase the number and activity of microorganisms. number and activity of microorganisms.

STRIP TILLAGE OFFERS STRIP TILLAGE OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TOAN ALTERNATIVE TOFULL-WIDTH TILLAGEFULL-WIDTH TILLAGE

IN-ROW RESIDUE MGT.IN-ROW RESIDUE MGT.ZONE-TILL PLANTERZONE-TILL PLANTER

STRIP TILLAGE OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TOSTRIP TILLAGE OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TOFULL-WIDTH TILLAGE WITH CONSERVATIONFULL-WIDTH TILLAGE WITH CONSERVATIONAND AGRONOMIC BENEFITSAND AGRONOMIC BENEFITS

TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL STRENGTHSTRENGTH

Reduced tillage soils have higher Reduced tillage soils have higher surface bulk densitysurface bulk density

Short-term response to occasional Short-term response to occasional tillagetillage

Traffic management criticalTraffic management critical Subsoiling response is likely site Subsoiling response is likely site

dependentdependent

Compaction affects the soil - structure- porosity- aeration- strength

Plant growth affected - root growth- nutrient uptake- water utilization

SUMMARYSUMMARY Tillage management can greatly modify Tillage management can greatly modify

soil properties related to soil quality and soil properties related to soil quality and crop growthcrop growth

Tillage intensity will impact residue Tillage intensity will impact residue management and soil consolidationmanagement and soil consolidation

Many physical and chemical properties Many physical and chemical properties are affectedare affected

Better traffic and tillage management will Better traffic and tillage management will enhance soil qualityenhance soil quality