Effects of strategic tillage on short-term erosion, nutrient loss in runoff and greenhouse gas emissions
Article
Article Title | Effects of strategic tillage on short-term erosion, nutrient loss in runoff and greenhouse gas emissions |
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ERA Journal ID | 5248 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Melland, A. R. (Author), Antille, D. L. (Author) and Dang, Y. P. (Author) |
Journal Title | Soil Research |
Journal Citation | 55 (3), pp. 201-214 |
Number of Pages | 14 |
Year | 2017 |
Publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
Place of Publication | Australia |
ISSN | 0004-9573 |
1446-568X | |
1838-675X | |
1838-6768 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1071/SR16136 |
Web Address (URL) | http://www.publish.csiro.au/SR/fulltext/SR16136 |
Abstract | Occasional strategic tillage (ST) of long-term no-tillage (NT) soil to help control weeds may increase the risk of water, erosion and nutrient losses in runoff and of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with NT soil. The present study examined the short-term effect of ST on runoff and GHG emissions in NT soils under controlled-traffic farming regimes. A rainfall simulator was used to generate runoff from heavy rainfall (70 mm h–1) on small plots of NT and ST on a Vertosol, Dermosol and Sodosol. Nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from the Vertosol and Sodosol were measured before and after the rain using passive chambers. On the Sodosol and Dermosol there was 30% and 70% more runoff, respectively, from ST plots than from NT plots, however, volumes were similar between tillage treatments on the Vertosol. Erosion was highest after ST on the Sodosol (8.3 t ha–1 suspended sediment) and there were no treatment differences on the other soils. Total nitrogen (N) loads in runoff followed a similar pattern, with 10.2 kg ha–1 in runoff from the ST treatment on the Sodosol. Total phosphorus loads were higher after ST than NT on both the Sodosol (3.1 and 0.9 kg ha–1, respectively) and the Dermosol (1.0 and 0.3 kg ha–1, respectively). Dissolved nutrient forms comprised less than 13% of total losses. Nitrous oxide emissions were low from both NT and ST in these low-input systems. However, ST decreased CH4 absorption from both soils and almost doubled CO2 emissions from the Sodosol. Strategic tillage may increase the susceptibility of Sodosols and Dermosols to water, sediment and nutrient losses in runoff after heavy rainfall. The trade-offs between weed control, erosion and GHG emissions should be considered as part of any tillage strategy. |
Keywords | controlled traffic; nitrogen; nitrous oxide; phosphorus; mechanical weed control |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300201. Agricultural hydrology |
410601. Land capability and soil productivity | |
300202. Agricultural land management | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture |
University of Queensland | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3xz9/effects-of-strategic-tillage-on-short-term-erosion-nutrient-loss-in-runoff-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions
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