1
|
Liu QY, Xu CT, Han SW, Li XX, Kan ZR, Zhao X, Zhang HL. Strategic tillage achieves lower carbon footprints with higher carbon accumulation and grain yield in a wheat-maize cropping system. Sci Total Environ 2021; 798:149220. [PMID: 34315054 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Continuous single tillage has the potential to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decrease the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC), thus increasing carbon footprints (CFs). However, in a wheat-maize cropping system, limited information was available about the effects of strategic tillage on CFs. Thus, a four-year field experiment was conducted, including continuous rotary tillage (RT), continuous no-till (NT), RT + subsoiling (RS), and NT + subsoiling (NS), to investigate the effects of NS (strategic tillage) on the unit area and unit yield. The results showed that CO2 emission was the highest contributor to CFs (73.92%) in a winter wheat-summer maize cropping system, following the order of NS < NT < RS < RT. The direct N2O emissions from fertilizers and residues were 4.43-4.51 t CO2-eq ha-1 yr-1 during the wheat and maize seasons, and indirect N2O emissions from irrigation and fertilizer inputs had a proportion of >80% from total agricultural inputs. The differences in SOC storage significantly affected the CFs. Although the NS treatment increased the amount of GHG emissions from the residues returned and consumption of diesel, the enhancement of SOC storage by deeper SOC increased. Thus, lower area-scaled CFs were observed in the NS treatment. Furthermore, a higher grain yield and an annual change of SOC storage compared with other treatments were observed under the NS system, which helped to reduce the CFs. The yield-scaled CFs followed the order of RT > RS > NT > NS when considering the changes in SOC storage. Therefore, the NS treatment resulted in a higher grain yield and SOC sequestration with lower CFs, and thus, it could be recommended as the best tillage method to achieve sustainable production and environmental balance in a wheat-maize cropping system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Yue Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Cheng-Tang Xu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Shou-Wei Han
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Xiao-Xiao Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Zheng-Rong Kan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Xin Zhao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Hai-Lin Zhang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China; Key Laboratory of Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Beijing 100193, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Peixoto DS, Silva LDCMD, Melo LBBD, Azevedo RP, Araújo BCL, Carvalho TSD, Moreira SG, Curi N, Silva BM. Occasional tillage in no-tillage systems: A global meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ 2020; 745:140887. [PMID: 32717599 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
No-tillage (NT) is a major component of conservation agricultural systems. Challenges that have arisen with the adoption of NT include soil compaction, weed management, and stratification of organic matter and nutrients. As an attempt to overcome these challenges, occasional tillage (OT) has been used as a soil management practice in NT systems. However, little is known about the impacts of OT on agronomic and environmental factors. For this reason, the objectives of this meta-analysis were: 1) to summarize the effects of OT on crop productivity, soil physical, chemical and biological properties, soil erosion and weed control; 2) to discuss the main aspects of NT management to optimize the use of OT; 3) to point out shortcomings in the diagnosis of soil compaction in NT systems, which may lead to erroneous decision-making processes regarding the use of OT. Overall, OT did not affect crops yields, although increased crop yields were observed in regions under water restriction and in soils with low retention capacity and water availability; OT improved soil physical properties (penetration resistance, soil bulk density, macroporosity, and total porosity), with persistence, generally, greater than 24 months, and decreased the soil aggregates stability; total organic carbon was reduced, particularly when plow/harrow was used and NT was already consolidated, and there was no effect on pH and available P; OT increased microbial biomass carbon, but had no effect on total microbial activity; soil erosion was reduced due to increased soil-water infiltration and reduced runoff, and finally, weed management was also improved by OT. It is suggested that suitable NT implementation and management, with the correct application of NT principles, will overcome problems associated with NT. As soil compaction is the main justification for the use of OT, methods of diagnosis and monitoring of soil compaction should be improved to assist in decision-making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devison Souza Peixoto
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lucas de Castro Moreira da Silva
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Laura Beatriz Batista de Melo
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Raphael Passaglia Azevedo
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Brunno Cassiano Lemos Araújo
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Teotônio Soares de Carvalho
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Silvino Guimarães Moreira
- Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nilton Curi
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruno Montoani Silva
- Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Av. Doutor Sylvio Menicucci 1001, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dang YP, Balzer A, Crawford M, Rincon-Florez V, Liu H, Melland AR, Antille D, Kodur S, Bell MJ, Whish JPM, Lai Y, Seymour N, Carvalhais LC, Schenk P. Strategic tillage in conservation agricultural systems of north-eastern Australia: why, where, when and how? Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:1000-1015. [PMID: 28390024 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8937-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Farmers often resort to an occasional tillage (strategic tillage (ST)) operation to combat constraints of no-tillage (NT) farming systems. There are conflicting reports regarding impacts of ST and a lack of knowledge around when, where and how ST is implemented to maximise its benefits without impacting negatively on soil and environment. We established 14 experiments during 2012-2015 on farms with long-term history of continuous NT to (i) quantify the associated risks and benefits to crop productivity, soil and environmental health and (ii) explore key factors that need to be considered in decisions to implement ST in an otherwise NT system. Results showed that introduction of ST reduced weed populations and improved crop productivity and profitability in the first year after tillage, with no impact in subsequent 4 years. Soil properties were not impacted in Vertosols; however, Sodosols and Dermosols suffered short-term negative soil health impacts (e.g. increased bulk density). A Sodosol and a Dermosol also posed higher risks of runoff and associated loss of nutrients and sediment during intense rainfall after ST. The ST reduced plant available water in the short term, which could result in unreliable sowing opportunities for the following crop especially in semi-arid climate that prevails in north-eastern Australia. The results show that generally, there were no significant differences in crop productivity and soil health between tillage implements and tillage frequencies between ST and NT. The study suggests that ST can be a viable strategy to manage constraints of NT systems, with few short-term soil and environmental costs and some benefits such as short-term farm productivity and profitability and reduced reliance on herbicides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yash Pal Dang
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
| | - Anna Balzer
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Mark Crawford
- Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Toowoomba, Australia
| | - Vivian Rincon-Florez
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Hongwei Liu
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Michael John Bell
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | | | - Yunru Lai
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Nikki Seymour
- Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Toowoomba, Australia
| | - Lilia Costa Carvalhais
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Peer Schenk
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|