Physical properties and organic carbon in no-tilled agricultural systems in silty Pampas soils of Argentina
Guillermo Ezequiel Peralta
A , Rodolfo Cesáreo Gil B , María Belén Agosti C , Carina Rosa Álvarez D * and Miguel Ángel Taboada D
A
B
C
D
Abstract
Under continuous long-term no-till farming, many silty soils develop platey and massive compacted structures in topsoil, ascribed to low crop diversification and intense agricultural traffic.
We hypothesise that agricultural scenarios of greater diversification and cropping intensity should increase carbon (C) inputs and total and particulate organic C, resulting in the disappearance of these platey and massive compacted structures and soil compaction.
The hypothesis was tested in 55 selected production fields (lots or macro-plots of trials with a cultivated area greater than 15 ha) and five non-cultivated sites across the Rolling Pampas of Argentina. The whole area was covered by fine, illitic, thermal, silty loams (Typic Argiudolls, US Soil Taxonomy; Typic Phaeozems, FAO Soil Map). Based on estimations of the crop intensity index (CII; proportion of days in the year with active crop growth) and recent agricultural history of crop sequences, sampled fields were grouped into five categories: soybean (Glycine max) monoculture (CII < 0.45; mean CII = 0.39); low intensity cropping sequence (CII = 0.45–0.60; mean CII = 0.50); high intensity cropping sequence (CII = 0.60–0.80; mean CII = 0.66); pastures for hay bale production (CII = 1.0); and quasi-pristine situations (areas with non-implanted and non-grazed grass vegetation or with negligible stocking rate, CII = 1.0).
Total C inputs to soil varied within ~1400–7800 kg C ha−1 year−1 and were significantly and positively related to crop intensity index (P < 0.0001, r = 0.83). The highest (P < 0.05) soil organic C levels were observed in the first 0.05 m of soil and quasi-pristine conditions (even higher than under pasture), and the lowest (P < 0.05) under soybean monoculture. In the 0.05–0.20 m soil layer, quasi-pristine conditions had significantly (P < 0.05) higher soil organic C levels; the other situations did not differ. Soil organic C and particulate organic C levels (0–0.05 m layer) were related to both CII and annual C input. Platey structures and clods >0.1 m (0–0.2 m layer) were negatively related to CII (r = −0.59 and −0.45, respectively; P < 0.0001) and C inputs from crops (r = −0.60 and −0.29, respectively; P < 0.01). Nevertheless, this did not result in soil compaction alleviation, as shown by soil bulk density, maximum penetration resistance and water infiltration variations. About 92% of the samples with soil bulk density above the threshold (1.35 Mg m−3), and about 32% of the total records, presented levels of maximum penetration resistance, aeration porosity and/or water infiltration beyond the values suggested as critical.
Although soil organic C in topsoil varied as hypothesised, the studied soil physical properties did not. This partially rejects our hypothesis.
This study underscores the intricate interplay between crop intensity, SOC enhancement, soil structure improvement and the persistent challenge of subsoil compaction.
Keywords: bulk density, crop intensification, infiltration rate, no tillage, organic carbon, penetration resistance, soil carbon fractions, soil structure.
References
Abdollahi L, Munkholm LJ, Garbout A (2014) Tillage system and cover crop effects on soil quality: II. Pore characteristics. Soil Science Society of America Journal 78, 271-279.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Acosta-Martínez V, Mikha MM, Vigil MF (2007) Microbial communities and enzyme activities in soils under alternative crop rotations compared to wheat–fallow for the Central Great Plains. Applied Soil Ecology 37, 41-52.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Albalasmeh AA, Ghezzehei TA (2014) Interplay between soil drying and root exudation in rhizosheath development. Plant and Soil 374, 739-751.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Álvarez CR, Taboada MA, Gutierrez Boem FH, Bono A, Fernández PL, Prystupa P (2009) Topsoil properties as affected by tillage systems in the rolling Pampa Region of Argentina. Soil Science Society of America Journal 73, 1242-1250.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Álvarez CR, Costantini AO, Bono A, Taboada MÁ, Boem FHG, Fernández PL, Prystupa P (2011) Distribution and vertical stratification of carbon and nitrogen in soil under different managements in the pampean region of Argentina. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 35, 1985-1994.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Álvarez CR, Fernández PL, Taboada MA (2012) Relación de la inestabilidad estructural con el manejo y propiedades de los suelos de la región Pampeana. Ciencia del Suelo 30, 173-178.
| Google Scholar |
Álvarez CR, Taboada MA, Perelman S, Morrás HJM (2014) Topsoil structure in no-tilled soils in the Rolling Pampa, Argentina. Soil Research 52, 533-542.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Álvaro-Fuentes J, Arrúe JL, Gracia R, López MV (2008) Tillage and cropping intensification effects on soil aggregation: temporal dynamics and controlling factors under semiarid conditions. Geoderma 145, 390-396.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bacigaluppo S, Bodrero ML, Balzarini M, Gerster GR, Andriani JM, Enrico JM, Dardanelli JL (2011) Main edaphic and climatic variables explaining soybean yield in Argiudolls under no-tilled systems. European Journal of Agronomy 35, 247-254.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Basset C, Abou Najm M, Ghezzehei T, Hao X, Daccache A (2023) How does soil structure affect water infiltration? A meta-data systematic review. Soil and Tillage Research 226, 105577.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bengough AG, McKenzie BM, Hallett PD, Valentine TA (2011) Root elongation, water stress, and mechanical impedance: a review of limiting stresses and beneficial root tip traits. Journal of Experimental Botany 62, 59-68.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Boizard H, Peigné J, Sasal MC, de Fátima Guimarães M, Piron D, Tomis V, Vian J-F, Cadoux S, Ralisch R, Tavares Filho J, Heddadj D, De Battista J, Duparque A, Franchini JC, Roger-Estrade J (2017) Developments in the “profil cultural” method for an improved assessment of soil structure under no-till. Soil and Tillage Research 173, 92-103.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Bolinder MA, Janzen HH, Gregorich EG, Angers DA, VandenBygaart AJ (2007) An approach for estimating net primary productivity and annual carbon inputs to soil for common agricultural crops in Canada. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 118, 29-42.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Botta GF, Nardon GF, Guirado Clavijo R (2022) Soil Sustainability: analysis of the soil compaction under heavy agricultural machinery traffic in extensive crops. Agronomy 12, 282.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Calonego JC, Rosolem CA (2010) Soybean root growth and yield in rotation with cover crops under chiseling and no-till. European Journal of Agronomy 33, 242-249.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Cambardella CA, Elliott ET (1993) Methods for physical separation and characterization of soil organic matter fractions. Geoderma 56, 449-457.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Caviglia OP, Andrade FH (2010) Sustainable intensification of agriculture in the Argentinean pampas: capture and use efficiency of environmental resources. The Americas Journal of Plant Science and Biotechnology 3, 1-8.
| Google Scholar |
Caviglia OP, Sadras VO, Andrade FH (2004) Intensification of agriculture in the south-eastern Pampas: I. Capture and efficiency in the use of water and radiation in double-cropped wheat-soybean. Field Crops Research 87, 117-129.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Cockroft B, Olsson KA (2000) Degradation of soil structure due to coalescence of aggregates in no-till, no-traffic beds in irrigated crops. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 61-70.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Colombi T, Walter A (2016) Root responses of triticale and soybean to soil compaction in the field are reproducible under controlled conditions. Functional Plant Biology 43, 114-128.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Colombi T, Braun S, Keller T, Walter A (2017) Artificial macropores attract crop roots and enhance plant productivity on compacted soils. Science of The Total Environment 574, 1283-1293.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Cosentino D, Pecorari C (2002) Limos de baja densidad: impacto sobre el comportamiento físico de los suelos de la región pampeana. Ciencia del Suelo 20, 9-16.
| Google Scholar |
Cusser S, Bahlai C, Swinton SM, Robertson GP, Haddad NM (2020) Long-term research avoids spurious and misleading trends in sustainability attributes of no-till. Global Change Biology 26, 3715-3725.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Dardanelli JL, Collino D, Otegui ME, Sadras VO (2003) Bases funcionales para el manejo del agua en los sistemas de producción de los cultivos de grano. In ‘Producción de Cultivos de Granos. Bases Funcionales para su Manejo’. (Eds E Satorre et al.) pp. 377–442. (Editorial Facultad de Agronomía: Buenos Aires)
de Moraes Sá JC, Tivet F, Lal R, Briedis C, Hartman DC, dos Santos JZ, dos Santos JB (2014) Long-term tillage systems impacts on soil C dynamics, soil resilience and agronomic productivity of a Brazilian Oxisol. Soil and Tillage Research 136, 38-50.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
de Oliveira Ferreira A, Jorge Carneiro Amado T, da Silveira Nicoloso R, de Moraes Sá JC, Ernani Fiorin J, Santos Hansel DS, Menefee D (2013) Soil carbon stratification affected by long-term tillage and cropping systems in southern Brazil. Soil and Tillage Research 133, 65-74.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
De Ruyver R, Di Bella C (2019) Climate. In ‘The soils of Argentina’. World Soils Book Series. (Eds G Rubio, RS Lavado, FX Pereyra) pp. 27–47. (Springer: Cham) 10.1007/978-3-319-76853-3_3
Denef K, Six J, Paustian K, Merckx R (2001) Importance of macroaggregate dynamics in controlling soil carbon stabilization: short-term effects of physical disturbance induced by dry–wet cycles. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 33(15), 2145-2153.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Di Rienzo JA, Casanoves F, Balzarini MG, González L, Cuadroda M, Robledo CW (2011) InfoStat versión 2011. Grupo InfoStat, FCA, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina, Vol. 8, pp. 195–199. Available at http://www.infostat.com.ar
Dı́az-Zorita M, Duarte GA, Grove JH (2002) A review of no-till systems and soil management for sustainable crop production in the subhumid and semiarid Pampas of Argentina. Soil and Tillage Research 65, 1-18.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Fernández PL, Alvarez CR, Taboada MA (2011) Assessment of topsoil properties in integrated crop-livestock and continuous cropping systems under zero tillage. Soil Research 49, 143-151.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Fernández PL, Alvarez CR, Taboada MA (2015) Topsoil compaction and recovery in integrated no-tilled crop-livestock systems of Argentina. Soil and Tillage Research 153, 86-94.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Fernández PL, Álvarez CR, Behrends Kraemer F, Morrás HJM, Scheiner J, Boivin P, Taboada MA (2020) Curvas de contracción del suelo y micromorfología bajo diferentes manejos. Ciencia del Suelo 38, 29-44.
| Google Scholar |
Foley JL, Tolmie PE, Silburn DM (2006) Improved measurement of conductivity on swelling clay soils using a modified disc permeameter method. Australian Journal of Soil Research 44, 701-710.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Franzluebbers AJ (2002) Water infiltration and soil structure related to organic matter and its stratification with depth. Soil and Tillage Research 66, 197-205.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Franzluebbers AJ, Sawchik J, Taboada MA (2014) Agronomic and environmental impacts of pasture-crop rotations in temperate North and South America. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 190, 18-26.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Gregory PJ (2006) Roots, rhizosphere and soil: the route to a better understanding of soil science? European Journal of Soil Science 57, 2-12.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Hirte J, Leifeld J, Abiven S, Oberholzer H-R, Mayer J (2018) Below ground carbon inputs to soil via root biomass and rhizodeposition of field-grown maize and wheat at harvest are independent of net primary productivity. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 265, 556-566.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Irizar AB, Delaye LAM, Andriulo AE (2015) Projection of soil organic carbon reserves in the Argentine rolling pampa under different agronomic scenarios. Relationship of these reserves with some soil properties. The Open Agriculture Journal 9, 30-41.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
INTA (2018) Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Carta de Suelos de la Región Pampeana. Escala 1: 50.000, Buenos Aires. Available at https://zenodo.org/records/6353509#.YoeyeajMLcd
Jastrow JD (1996) Soil aggregate formation and the accrual of particulate and mineral-associated organic matter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28(4–5), 665-676.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Lee J, Hopmans JW, Rolston DE, Baer SG, Six J (2009) Determining soil carbon stock changes: simple bulk density corrections fail. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 134, 251-256.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
MAGyP (2022) Estimaciones Agrícolas. Available at https://datosestimaciones.magyp.gob.ar/reportes.php?reporte=Estimaciones [accessed 20 July 2022]
McDaniel MD, Tiemann LK, Grandy AS (2014) Does agricultural crop diversity enhance soil microbial biomass and organic matter dynamics? A meta-analysis. Ecological Applications 24(3), 560-570.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Milesi Delaye LA, Irizar AB, Andriulo AE, Mary B (2013) Effect of continuous agriculture of grassland soils of the Argentine Rolling Pampa on soil organic carbon and nitrogen. Applied and Environmental Soil Science 2013, 487865.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Minasny B, McBratney AB (2000) Estimation of sorptivity from disc-permeameter measurements. Geoderma 95(3-4), 305-324.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Montiel FS, Moreno R, Domínguez GF, Studdert GA (2019) Validación de RothC para simular cambios en el carbono orgánico edáfico bajo rotaciones mixtas y siembra directa. Ciencia del Suelo 37(2), 281-297.
| Google Scholar |
Mueller L, Kay BD, Hu C, Li Y, Schindler U, Behrendt A, Shepherd TG, Ball BC (2009) Visual assessment of soil structure: evaluation of methodologies on sites in Canada, China and Germany: part I: comparing visual methods and linking them with soil physical data and grain yield of cereals. Soil and Tillage Research 103, 178-187.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Mueller L, Shepherd G, Schindler U, Ball BC, Munkholm LJ, Hennings V, Smolentseva E, Rukhovic O, Lukin S, Hu C (2013) Evaluation of soil structure in the framework of an overall soil quality rating. Soil and Tillage Research 127, 74-84.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Novelli LE, Caviglia OP, Melchiori RJM (2011) Impact of soybean cropping frequency on soil carbon storage in Mollisols and Vertisols. Geoderma 167–168, 254-260.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Novelli LE, Caviglia OP, Wilson MG, Sasal MC (2013) Land use intensity and cropping sequence effects on aggregate stability and C storage in a Vertisol and a Mollisol. Geoderma 195–196, 260-267.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Novelli LE, Caviglia OP, Piñeiro G (2017) Increased cropping intensity improves crop residue inputs to the soil and aggregate-associated soil organic carbon stocks. Soil and Tillage Research 165, 128-136.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Oades JM (1984) Soil organic matter and structural stability: mechanisms and implications for management. Plant and Soil 76, 319-337.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Parton WJ, Schimel DS, Ojima DS, Cole CV (1994) A general model for soil organic matter dynamics: sensitivity to litter chemistry, texture and management. In ‘Quantitative modelling of soil forming processes’. Spec. Publication, 39. (Eds RB Bryant, RW Arnold) pp. 147–167. (ASA, CSSA and SSA: Madison, Wisconsin, USA)
Peralta G, Alvarez CR, Taboada MÁ (2021) Soil compaction alleviation by deep non-inversion tillage and crop yield responses in no tilled soils of the Pampas region of Argentina. A meta-analysis. Soil and Tillage Research 211, 105022.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Perroux KM, White I (1988) Designs for disc permeameters 1. Soil Science Society of America Journal 52, 1205-1215.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Pilatti MA, Orellana JD (2011) Suelos ideales para agricultura sostenible. FAVE Sección Ciencias Agrarias 11(1), 65-88.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Pinheiro J, Bates D, DebRoy S, Sarkar D (2014) Linear and nonlinear mixed effects models. R Packag. version 3. Available at http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/nlme/
Poeplau C (2016) Estimating root: shoot ratio and soil carbon inputs in temperate grasslands with the RothC model. Plant and Soil 407, 293-305.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Pulido Moncada M, Gabriels D, Lobo D, Rey JC, Cornelis WM (2014) Visual field assessment of soil structural quality in tropical soils. Soil and Tillage Research 139, 8-18.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
R Core Team (2021) ‘R: a language and environment for statistical computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria). Available at https://www.R-project.org/
Reid JB, Goss MJ (1982) Interactions between soil drying due to plant water use and decreases in aggregate stability caused by maize roots. Journal of Soil Science 33, 47-53.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Rubio G, Pereyra FX, Taboada MA (2019) Soils of the Pampean Region. In ‘The soils of argentina’. World Soils Book Series. (Eds G Rubio, R Lavado, F Pereyra) pp. 81–100. (Springer: Cham) doi:10.1007/978-3-319-76853-3_6
Sasal MC, Andriulo AE, Taboada MA (2006) Soil porosity characteristics and water movement under zero tillage in silty soils in Argentinian Pampas. Soil and Tillage Research 87, 9-18.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Sasal MC, Léonard J, Andriulo A, Boizard H (2017a) A contribution to understanding the origin of platy structure in silty soils under no tillage. Soil and Tillage Research 173, 42-48.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Sasal MC, Boizard H, Andriulo AE, Wilson MG, Léonard J (2017b) Platy structure development under no-tillage in the northern humid Pampas of Argentina and its impact on runoff. Soil and Tillage Research 173, 33-41.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Saxton KE, Rawls WJ (2006) Soil water characteristic estimates by texture and organic matter for hydrologic solutions. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70, 1569-1578.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Shepherd TG (2009) Visual soil assessment. Volume 1. Field guide for pastoral grazing and cropping on flat to rolling country. horizons.mw & Landcare Research, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Available at https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/28677/VSA_Vol2_smaller.pdf [acceso 23 November 2018]
Shepherd TG, Saggar S, Newman RH, Ross CW, Dando JL (2001) Tillage-induced changes to soil structure and organic carbon fractions in New Zealand soils. Soil Research 39(3), 465-489.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Sivarajan S, Maharlooei M, Bajwa SG, Nowatzki J (2018) Impact of soil compaction due to wheel traffic on corn and soybean growth, development and yield. Soil and Tillage Research 175, 234-243.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Six J, Elliott ET, Paustian K (2000) Soil macroaggregate turnover and microaggregate formation: a mechanism for C sequestration under no-tillage agriculture. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 32, 2099-2103.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Soracco CG, Lozano LA, Sarli GO, Gelati PR, Filgueira RR (2010) Anisotropy of saturated hydraulic conductivity in a soil under conservation and no-till treatments. Soil and Tillage Research 109, 18-22.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Steffens M, Kölbl A, Totsche KU, Kögel-Knabner I (2008) Grazing effects on soil chemical and physical properties in a semiarid steppe of Inner Mongolia (P.R. China). Geoderma 143, 63-72.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Taboada MA, Micucci FG, Cosentino DJ, Lavado RS (1998) Comparison of compaction induced by conventional and zero tillage in two soils of the Rolling Pampa of Argentina. Soil and Tillage Research 49, 57-63.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Taboada MA, Barbosa OA, Rodríguez MB, Cosentino DJ (2004) Mechanisms of aggregation in a silty loam under different simulated management regimes. Geoderma 123, 233-244.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Taboada MA, Barbosa OA, Cosentino DJ (2008) Null creation of air-filled structural pores by soil cracking and shrinkage in silty loamy soils. Soil Science 173, 130-142.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Tao F, Huang Y, Hungate BA, et al. (2023) Microbial carbon use efficiency promotes global soil carbon storage. Nature 618, 981-985.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Taylor HM, Brar GS (1991) Effect of soil compaction on root development. Soil and Tillage Research 19, 111-119.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Valentine TA, Hallett PD, Binnie K, Young MW, Squire GR, Hawes C, Bengough AG (2012) Soil strength and macropore volume limit root elongation rates in many UK agricultural soils. Annals of Botany 110, 259-270.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |
Veen BW, Boone FR (1990) The influence of mechanical resistance and soil water on the growth of seminal roots of maize. Soil and Tillage Research 16, 219-226.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
Villamil MB, Bollero GA, Darmody RG, Simmons FW, Bullock DG (2006) No-till corn/soybean systems including winter cover crops. Soil Science Society of America Journal 70, 1936-1944.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |
