Organic Matter Management with Reduced Tillage Systems in New Zealand. (5168)
Authors:
M.H. Beare* - Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand D. Curtin - Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand G.S. Francis - Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand P.M. Fraser - Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand R. Gillespie - Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand T. Harrison-Kirk - Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
Abstract:
Management of soil organic matter may be important to sustaining long-term arable cropping following improvements under pasture in New Zealand mixed-cropping rotations. The establishment and
maintenance of crops with different tillage (conventional [CT], minimum [MT] and no-tillage [NT]) and cover crop management practices were investigated for their effects on organic matter dynamics, soil structure and soil water storage. After three years of continuous cropping, organic C loss ranged from 8 to 16 Mg C/ha and was greatest under CT, intermediate under MT and lowest under NT. Loss of C from an uncultivated chemical fallow treatment was similar to MT, indicating that continuous inputs of plant matter are important to maintaining soil organic matter. Surface soil aggregate stability (MWD) decreased from 2.0 mm under grass pasture to about 1.2, 1.6 and 1.8 mm after 3 years of cropping under CT, MT, and NT, respectively, in line with organic C losses. Surface soil (0-20 cm) under no-tillage maintained an average of 15 and 6 mm more water than CT and MT treatments, respectively, during the summer irrigation period. Good to average crops of barley, wheat and peas were achieved with little or no differences between tillage systems.
Speaker Information: Mike Beare, Crop & Food Research, Lincoln, New Zealand, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch, ; Phone: 64 3 325 6400 x3485; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 3:30 PM-5:30 PM Presentation Start: 3:30 PM (Poster Board Number: 2548)
Keywords: organic matter management; soil structure; soil water storage; reduced tillage systems
