
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bissett, MJ 
A1  - Oleary, GJ 
T1  - Effects of conservation tillage and rotation on water infiltration in two soils in south-eastern Australia
JF  - Soil Research
JO  - Soil Res.
Y1  - 1996
VL  - 34
IS  - 2
SP  - 299
EP  - 308
KW  - disc permeameter, hydraulic conductivity, soil water, conservation tillage.
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9960299 
N2  - The infiltration of water under long-term (8&ndash;10 years) conservation tillage (zero and subsurface tillage with stubble retention) and conventional tillage (frequent tined tillage with no surface residues) systems was compared on a grey cracking clay and a sandy loam soil in south-eastern Australia. Potential infiltration rates were higher under conservation tillage on both soil types. On the grey clay soil, stubble retention and zero tillage produced up to an 8-fold increase (from 12&ndash;33 to 145&ndash;206 mm/h) in saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) compared with the conventional practice of removing stubble by burning or grazing, followed by frequent tillage to control weeds. An annual application of nitrogen at 20&ndash;60 kg/ha had no significant effect on Ks. Similarly, on the sandy loam soil a 2-fold increase in Ks was observed from conservation tillage. Increases in Ks from approximately 46 to 96 mm/h occurred in rotations which included an 18-month fallow with conservation tillage (stubble retention and zero tillage) compared with conventional tillage (stubble removed and frequent tillage). A continuous rotation of pasture and wheat under conventional tillage had a significantly lower Ks of 22&ndash;23 mm/h which was increased to 47&ndash;49 mm/h with stubble retention and zero tillage. These differences in Ks explain an important mechanism for increased water storage on these soil types under reduced tillage. 
ER  -

