Assessment of topsoil properties in integrated crop–livestock and continuous cropping systems under zero tillage
P. L. Fernández A C , C. R. Alvarez A and M. A. Taboada B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires. Av. San Martín 4453 (C1417DSE) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
B Instituto de Suelos, CIRN, INTA. Los Reseros y Las Cabañas S/N, (1686) Hurlingham, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
C Corresponding author. Email: fpl@agro.uba.ar
Soil Research 49(2) 143-151 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR10086
Submitted: 9 April 2010 Accepted: 20 September 2010 Published: 10 March 2011
Abstract
A regional study was conducted in the northern Pampas of Argentina in order to compare soil quality at proximal cropland sites that are managed under either continuous cropping (CC) (n = 11) or integrated crop–livestock (ICL) (n = 11) systems under zero tillage. In the ICL system, samples were taken in the middle of the agricultural period. Although soil total and resistant organic carbon (TOC, ROC) were significantly higher in silt loam soils than in loam/sandy loam soils, variations in carbon concentration were not associated with differences in soil management. Soil relative compaction was the only property that was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the soil type × management interaction. Soil relative compaction values were significantly lower with ICL in loam/sandy loam soils, but there were no significant differences in silt loam soils. Structural instability index showed little change from CC to ICL sites, indicating that there was no soil structural damage. Soil penetration resistance was significantly higher in ICL soils within the first 0.075 m of soil depth, slightly exceeding the critical threshold (2000 kPa). However, firmer topsoil under ICL was not due to shallow compaction, as evidenced by no increase in soil bulk density.
Additional keywords: cattle trampling, soil compaction, soil organic carbon fractions, soil physical properties.
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