Introduction Conservation tillage systems using sweep plows or field cultivators leave a high percentage of crop residues on the soil surface, which protects the soil from wind and water erosion (Johnson, 1950; Jones and Johnson, 1982; Allen and Fenster, 1986; Johnson et al., 1974). These systems have been successful in semiarid areas because meager rainfall after plowing does not allow weeds t...

Crop cultivars now being grown in no-till production systems were developed by selecting for performance in conventionally tilled environments. In order to maximize production of corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a no-till environment, it may be necessary to select for performance under the same conditions. The economic incentive for d...

introduction energy analysis of agricultural ecosystem is essential for sustainable production. the relation between agriculture and energy is very close. agriculture is an energy consumer and the energy supplier. agriculture’s use of energy is recognized in three external inputs: labor, machines, and fertilizers (connor et al., 2011). significant gains in energy efficiency were arisen in agric...

.soil microorganisms are important agents in nutrient cycling and energy flow. they are extremely sensitive to environmental changes. soil microbial biomass has been proposed as an index of soil stress and disturbance. the objective of this study was to determine the effects of barley (hordeum vulgare l.) residue amounts, burning, nitrogen fertilizer levels and tillage management on organic car...

Objectives The objective of this research is to characterize biological, physical and chemical soil quality parameters and monitor their changes over time in minimum tillage and no-till seeding systems as affected by tillage, crop species and management systems to identify soil quality attributes that can be used in the development of best management practices for conserving soil quality and en...

greenhouse gases emissions from burning fossil fuels and the effect of these gases on climate change is one of the most important ecological and political issues. in this study the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from tillage and soybean planting were assessed in gorgan. this study is done on 13 soybean farms in 2012. information related to tillage and planting operations were p...

Agriculture is facing a major challenge nowadays: to increase crop production for food and energy while preserving ecosystem functioning and soil quality. Argentine Pampas is one of the main world producers of crops and one of the main adopters of conservation agriculture. Changes in soil chemical and physical properties of Pampas soils due to different tillage systems have been deeply studied....

In this paper, remote sensing measurements like apparent electrical conductivity (ECa.) are used to assess soil compaction. In an experiment comparing five tillage treatments and their effect to energy crops soil penetration resistance (SPR) was measured at the same time as ECa. ECa measurements were carried out using EM-38with dipoles at 1m apart and SPR by an electronic penetrometer. The nega...

many farmers periodically use deep tillage operations to alleviate compaction in the soil profile caused by natural factors or machinery traffic. in 2012 and 2013, a study was initiated in the pannonian region of croatia to study the effects of no-tillage (nt), conventional tillage (ct) and deep tillage (dt) on soil compaction, measured by (bd), soil water content (swc), penetration resistance ...

Mechanized agriculture is increasing rapidly in the Cerrado region of Brazil, causing concerns about water quality, off-site impacts, and sustainability. Our objective was to determine the impact of tillage on soil biological activity and aggregate stability in an Oxisol typical to the region. Three different tillage practices common to the Cerrado region (no-till, disk harrow, and disk plow) a...