Effect of Tillage Systems on Physical Properties of a Clay Loam Soil under Oats

Karen Denisse Ordoñez-Morales, Martin Cadena-Zapata, Alejandro Zermeño-González and Santos Campos-Magaña
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Karen Denisse Ordoñez-Morales: Production Systems Engineering Program, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923 Saltillo, Coahuila 25315, Mexico
Martin Cadena-Zapata: Agricultural Machinery Department UAAAN Saltillo, Coahuila 25315, Mexico
Alejandro Zermeño-González: Irrigation and Drainage Department UAAAN, Saltillo, Coahuila 25315, Mexico
Santos Campos-Magaña: Agricultural Machinery Department UAAAN Saltillo, Coahuila 25315, Mexico

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: In many regions, conservation tillage has been shown to contribute to preserving soil properties. However, in order to promote this practice in new areas, it is necessary to generate information about its results in local environmental conditions. Our objective was to study the effect of No Tillage (NT), Vertical Tillage (VT) and Conventional Tillage (CT) on physical soil properties of a clay loam soil and on yields ( Avena sativa L.), in a semiarid area of Mexico. From 2013 to 2016 an experiment was conducted in random blocks, with the three tillage systems as treatments. Four variables were measured; bulk density (Bd), pore space (P), hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and crop yield. Our results did show scarce differences between the tillage systems. Values ranged between 1.21 g cm −3 to 1.39 g cm −3 for Bd, 45% to 55% for P, and 4.29 mm h −1 to 13.61 mm h −1 for Ks. Although differences were not significant among treatments, Bd decreased 6.7% for CT, 5.6% for NT and 0.7% for VT. P increased 6% for CT, 5% for NT and 0.5% for VT. Ks for CT decreased 6% more than for NT and VT. Average yield was 13% less in NT compared to CT and VT. A long-term investigation is needed in order to determine the effects of tillage methods, in our particular environmental conditions.

Keywords: tillage systems; bulk density; porosity; hydraulic conductivity; oats; semiarid region (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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