Infiltration rate as affected by an alfalfa and no-till cotton cropping system

Meek, B.D. and DeTar, W.R. and Rolph, D. and Rechel, E.R. and Carter, L.M. (1990) Infiltration rate as affected by an alfalfa and no-till cotton cropping system. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 54:505-508.

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Abstract

Previous studies measured a long-term increase in infiltration rate
in a sandy loam soil with time when alfalfa (Medicago saliva L., cv.
WL514) was grown. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) was direct-planted
into alfalfa to determine if the high infiltration rates measured
under alfalfa culture could be maintained in cotton under either
a till or no-till system. Treatments were no-till or tillage to the 0.15 -
m depth just before the cotton was planted. Prior compaction levels
created by harvest traffic applied to the alfalfa made the soil loose
or compacted. Cotton was planted flat and irrigated as a basin. Infiltration
rates measured 2 h after water was applied and averaged
for the season were 101 (no-till, loose), 56 (till, loose), 82 (no-till,
compacted), and 42 mm/h (till, compacted). All the infiltration rates
were much higher than normally measured for cotton in these soils.
Water flow in the 5-yr-old alfalfa was determined to be mainly
through the soil macropore system. High infiltration rates measured
in the no-till cotton were also probably the result of flow through
the macropores.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0702
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Alfalfa Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration Soil > Tillage Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:53
Last Modified:	03 Jan 2017 18:01
Item ID:	532
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/532