Soil quality is influenced by inherent and anthropogenic factors. This study was conducted to provide multiple groups guidance on how to achieve and maintain improved soil quality/health. Our hypothesis was that tillage intensity was the primary anthropogenic factor degrading soil quality, and our objective was to prove that hypothesis through an intensive 2005 sampling of a central Iowa, USA f...

Crop growth models can be useful tools in evaluating the impacts of di€erent tillage systems on the growth and ®nal yield of crops. A tillage model was incorporated into CROPGRO-Soybean and tested for conditions in Ames, IA, USA. Predictions of changes in surface residue, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, runo€ curve number, and surface albedo were consistent with expected behaviors of thes...

and in the tillage pan was maintained at a high level only when crop residue returns increased and soil pH Long-term experiments are ideal for evaluating the influence of was maintained above 5.6 (Pikul and Allmaras, 1986). agricultural practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) accretion. Little is known about the influence of tillage and N fertilization on SOC Long-term use of N fertilizer also r...

Installation of subsurface tile lines in poorly drained soils is a beneficial management practice that enhances crop productivity. In some instances, however, they can contribute to offsite losses of agricultural chemicals and sediment in drain flow. Movement of these materials through soil macropores (earthworm burrows and cracks) has been shown to contribute to this phenomenon. In order to de...

BACKGROUND: For the cultivation of agricultural crops, technology basic dump tillage is widely used. More than 40% energy resources are spent on it, due to traction resistance working bodies general-purpose plows. The technological process plowing with such has not changed much historically. Pruning soil layer carried out a ploughshare, crumbling and turning blade, stability movement body provi...