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Changes in Soil Hydro-Physical Properties by Cover Crops Relative to Tillage Management

  • SOIL PHYSICS
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Abstract

Cover crop management practices have a critical impact for long-term sustainable soil productivity due to their positive effects on soil hydro-physical properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes of water retention, pore-size distributions, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and bulk density values of soil samples collected before and after tillage in response to cover crop (CC) and no-cover crop (NCC) treatments. Research was conducted on a silt loam soil in Chariton County, Missouri, United States. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), red clover (Trifolium pretense), turnips (Brassica rapa L.), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), cereal rye (Secale cereals L.), winter peas (Lathryrus hirsutus L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.), radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. longipinnatus), and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were used as the CCs. Soil sampling was performed in two different periods (spring/summer) from six replicate locations for each treatment using a grid sample design. Results showed that CC treatment had significantly greater water content in first samples for some pressures (0.0, –2.5 and –1500 kPa) and in second soil samples for all pressures. Total pores and macropores were significantly greater under CC treatment compared to no-cover crop (NCC) treatment for both sampling period. Ks and bulk density values of first and second soil samples were not significantly affected by cover crop treatment. Longer term studies are needed to compare effects of cover crop and tillage on soil hydro-physical properties.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I gratefully acknowledge funding support from The Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri. I wish to thank Dr. Stephen Anderson and Dr. Ranjith Udawatta from the University of Missouri, for providing all the assistance.

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  1. Department of Laboratory Technology, Vocational College of Simav, Kutahya Dumlupinar University, 43500, imav, Kutahya, , S, Turkey

    M. Çerçioğlu

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Çerçioğlu, M. Changes in Soil Hydro-Physical Properties by Cover Crops Relative to Tillage Management. Eurasian Soil Sc. 53, 1446–1454 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229320100051

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