Direct drilling and soil loosening for spring cereals on a fine sandy loam in Atlantic Canada

• Published in: Soil & tillage research Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 365 - 384
• Main Authors: Carter, M.R., Johnston, H.W., Kimpinski, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 1988
• Subjects: CANADA; CEREALE; CEREALES; CEREALS; DRILLING; LABRANZA; LOAM SOILS; LOCALISATION EN LIGNE; SIEMBRA EN LINEAS; SOL SABLOLIMONEUX; SUELO FRANCO; TILLAGE; TRAVAIL DU SOL
• ISSN: 0167-1987; 1879-3444
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-1987(88)90046-3

Changes in soil structure and properties, plant growth and diseases and agronomic aspects were determined, after 3 years, on a Charlottetown fine sandy loam, an Orthic Podzol with a perhumid soil moisture regime, subjected to three tillage systems for spring cereals. The tillage systems consisted of direct drilling, soil loosening with a “paraplow” followed by direct drilling and mouldboard ploughing. Rate of plant growth and other crop measurements were not changed by the tillage systems, except for the depth of seeding. Direct drilling reduced the accumulation of N and K in the plant, and reduced grain N, compared with mouldboard ploughing. Soil loosening prior to direct drilling prevented the decline in N and K accumulation, and increased grain yield and N content, in comparison with mouldboard ploughing. Direct drilling caused changes in soil macro-aggregation and reduced the evaporation rate, and increased microbial biomass C and N, total organic C and N and extractable ions at the soil surface (0–5 cm), compared with mouldboard ploughing. In addition, earthworm numbers were increased under direct drilling. Root lesion and spiral nematodes were not influenced by tillage differences. Soil loosening prior to direct drilling alleviated the significant reductions in soil macroporosity, and prevented the increase in soil bulk density, soil strength and percentage water-filled pore space (%WFPS) associated with direct drilling alone. Although soil permeability was optimum under direct drilling alone, the relative increase in %WFPS and reduction in soil aeration were associated with a concomitant increase in common root rot.