One-time tillage of no-till: Effects on nutrients, mycorrhizae, and phosphorus uptake

Garcia, J.P. and Wortmann, C.S. and Mamo, M. and Drijber, R. and Tarkalson, D. (2007) One-time tillage of no-till: Effects on nutrients, mycorrhizae, and phosphorus uptake. Agronomy Journal. 99:1093-1103.

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Abstract

Stratification of nutrient availability, especially of P, that develops
with continuous no-till (NT) can affect runoff nutrient concentration
and possibly nutrient uptake. The effects of composted manure application
and one-time tillage of NT on the distribution of soil chemical
properties, root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), and
plant P uptake were determined. Research was conducted on Typic
Argiudoll and Moffic Hapludaff soils under rainfed corn (Zea mays L.)
or sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] rotated with soybean
[Glycine max (L.) Men.] in eastern Nebraska. Tillage treatments included
NT, disk, chisel, moldboard plow (MP), and mini-moldboard
plow (MMP). Subplots had either 0 or 87.4 kg P ha -I- applied in compost
before tillage. Bray-P1 was five to 21 times as high for the 0- to
5-cm as compared with the 10- to 20-cm soil depth. Greater redistribution
of nutrients and incorporation of compost P resulted from
MP tillage than from other tillage treatments. One-time chisel or disk
tillage did not effectively redistribute nutrients while MMP tillage had
an intermediate effect. Compost application reduced AM colonization
of roots at R6 for all crops. Tillage reduced AM colonization with
reductions at R6 due to MP tillage of 58 to 87%. The tillage effect
on colonization persisted through the second year with no indication
of AM recovery. Root P concentration was increased by MP and was
negatively correlated to colonization. Decreased colonization did not
result in decreased plant P uptake. Infrequent MP tillage can reduce
surface soil P and the potential for P loss in runoff, but may reduce
AM colonization of the roots, possibly reducing P uptake with some
low P soils. The results do not indicate any advantage to one-time tillage
of NT if runoff P loss is not a concern.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	1219
Subjects:	Soil > Tillage Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:49
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2016 17:21
Item ID:	57
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/57