![Page 1: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review 2013 ConservaJon Tillage ProducJon
Systems Training Conference Ti<on, GA
March 12, 2013
Kip Balkcom
Research Agronomist USDA-‐ARS, NSDL
ConservaJon Systems Research
Auburn, AL 1
![Page 2: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
In case you are not familiar, I want to show you a map of the U.S. and give you and idea of where I am from. The research andapplication of this research that I plan to discuss applies to the Southeastern region of the U.S. The soils is this region arepredominately Ultisols that are characterized by coarse soil textures, poor structure, and organic matter contents below 1%. These soils could certainly use some improvements through the use of conservation tillage.
The blue star is also for reference and indicates where the National Soil Dynamics Lab is located in Auburn, AL.
![Page 3: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Biomass Cto TOC ra5o
Total Organic C and N
Infiltra5on
SoilStrength
BulkDensity
Water
content
reten5on
capacity
SizeDistribu5on
NH and NO , P, K, Ca, Al,
CEC
NH and NO ,P, K, Ca, Al,
CEC
3344
Microbial Biomass C and N
SoilRespira5on
N
Respira5onto Biomass ra5o
mineralized CAggregate Stability
Soil C is the basis of soil quality and productivity. It affects many physical and chemical soil properties as indicated by this illustration. By increasing soil C, the positive effects associated with these soil properties are also enhanced.
3
![Page 4: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
How to increase soil C andimprove soil quality?
ConservaJon Tillage with Cover Crops
ConservaJon System
In our part of the world, we use a two pronged system to increase soil C. This involves a tillage component and a cover crop component. We try to use non-inversion tillage to maintain surface residues and maximize below ground disruption. With the cover crops, we want to utilize a high residue cover crop.
4
![Page 5: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
ConvenJonal Tillage Promotes SOM OxidaJon
5
![Page 6: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Manage compacJon . . .
Our Coastal Plain soils are particularly susceptible to hard-pan formation. We are not able to utilize no-tillage because our soils have the potential to form hard pans. Obviously, the hard pans limit the rooting depth and hinder nutrient and water uptake. The picture on the right shows the hardpan belowground and the grooves are where implements have scratched across the top of thehardpan, but they have not fractured the hard pan.
6
![Page 7: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Soil CompacJon Rainfall Rainfall
7
![Page 8: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Non-‐inversion Tillage
8
In our part of the world, we use a two pronged system to increase soil C. This involves a tillage component and a cover crop component. We try to use non-inversion tillage to maintain surface residues and maximize below ground disruption. With the cover crops, we want to utilize a high residue cover crop.
![Page 9: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
![Page 10: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Residues/Soil C Surface soil effects are most criJcal
We have discussed the benefits of increasing soil C. These effects are most pronounced in the surface soil. By minimizing surfacesoil disturbance and keeping the soil covered, we can increase surface soil C contents. It is difficult to change soil C levels very far below the soil surface, but increasing soil C near the soil surface can be very beneficial.
10
![Page 11: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
High Residue Cover Crop
I mentioned the second component of conservation systems for us is using a high residue cover crop. Based on the gentleman standing in the back, you can see we try to promote a lot of growth. Rye is a very popular choice for us due to its adaptability tomany soil types, biomass potential, and resistance to decomposition. In addition to the aboveground portion, the root system helps to minimize hard pan formation and help break up existing hard pans.
11
![Page 12: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
What is a Cover Crop?
• A crop whose main purpose is to benefit the soil and/or asubsequent crop inone or more ways, butis not intended to beharvested for feed orsale.
Courtesy: Harry Schomberg, USDA-‐ARS 12
A cover crop is a crop whose main purpose is to benefit the soil or other crops in one or more ways, but is not intended to beharvested for feed or sale.
![Page 13: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Why use Cover Crops? • Erosion control • Soil and water qualityimprovement
• Increased water infiltraJon
• Minimize nutrient loss
Soil organic carbon
13
Cover crops can provide several benefits both for the farmer and for society. These include erosion control and improved soilorganic matter, the capacity to provide nitrogen (from legumes), to recycle nutrients from deeper in the soil profile, and to take upand retain nutrients against loss through leaching or erosion. Well-managed cover crops can also decrease weed managementcosts while conserving water and decreasing the need for irrigation. Cover crops can provide habitat for wildlife including deer, ground nesting birds, and rodents. Finally, cover crops can increase profitability of conservation tillage systems . Improvements insoil productivity and profitability are usually seen after the second or third year, when the on-going addition of residues has resultedin soil quality improvements.
![Page 14: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Cover Crop Fer1liza1on
14
![Page 15: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
N ContribuJon of Peanut Residue
• EsJmate N contributed bypeanut residues to asucceeding rye cover crop in a conservaJon Jllage system.
• UJlized laboratory andfield studies. Peanut residue did not contribute
significant amounts of N based on 3-‐year biomass yields.
15
![Page 16: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Peanut Residue Mineraliza@on Carbon Nitrogen
Balkcom et al., 2004 16
![Page 17: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
-----% ------------------%
Peanut Residue
Peanut crop year
Peanut biomass
lb ac-1 C N
-----%----------
C/N ratio P K Ca
---------%---------%------------------2002 2820 42.2 1.7 25.3 0.10 1.2 0.83
2003 2880 44.0 1.1 39.6 0.16 1.3 1.2
2004 3000 36.2 1.4 26.6 0.18 0.35 0.97
17
![Page 18: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Peanut Residue
WGS Headland, AL 18
![Page 19: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
AlternaJve N Sources • Compare N sources, rates, and Jme of applicaJon for a rye cover crop tomaximize biomassproducJon.
19
![Page 20: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Rye
bio
mas
s, lb
ac-1
20
![Page 21: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Biomass ProducJon Time of TerminaJon
21
Bio
mas
s, lb
ac-1
![Page 22: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Headland – IniJal Plots; No Cover Crop
22
![Page 23: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Headland – IniJal Plots; Cover Crop
23
![Page 24: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Headland – At PlanJng; No Cover Crop
24
![Page 25: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Headland – At PlanJng; Cover Crop
25
![Page 26: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Initial tingAt PlaAt Planting stHa
h (cm)DepDepth (cm) (cm)Depth Depth (cm) cm)Depth
15-‐30 15-‐30
-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ -‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ ture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moi -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐ -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ -‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moisture, %-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐
Headland – Soil Moisture; 2 Depths
InitialInitial At Plannting Harvervest
Cover Deptth (cm) Depth (cm) Depth ((cm)
Crop 0-‐15 15-‐30 0-‐15 15-‐30 0-‐15 15-‐30
-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐Soil Moissture, %-‐%-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐
No 8.38 9.65 8.38 10.32 6.75 6.51
Yes 7.81 7.46 9.54 10.36 7.45 7.29
26
![Page 27: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Soil Water Conserva1on
Plot 141 Plot 142
27
![Page 28: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Timing TerminaJon
MAY 1
2-‐4 weeks
28
![Page 29: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
ConservaJon Systems Absorbs rainfall impact
Cooler soil temps Lower evapora@ve losses
Greater soil water infiltra@on
Increases plant available water
29
![Page 30: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Water Content-‐Cover Crop
30
![Page 31: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Rainfall SimulaJons
31
![Page 32: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
1
*No Deep Tillage
Rain
fall
(%)
100
80
0
60
40
20
No Till w/ residue
No Till w/o residue
ConventionalTillage
Tillage and residue effects on infiltration of a Coastal Plain Soil (2-inch rain event)
3 days
11 days
32
![Page 33: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
a(onInfil noff
Rainfall SimulaJons Infiltrtra(on RuRunoff
Soil Tillage Time in @llage regime (years)
mm/h % rainfall mm/h % rainfall ET assigned (mm/d)
PAWest (days)
Ti<on CT 6 26.0 51 25.0 49 7 3.7
ST 6 44.0 80 11.0 20 7 6.3
Cecil CT 15 25.0 44 31.0 56 6 4.2
ST 15 51.0 90 6.0 10 6 8.5
Sullivan et al. (2007) 33
![Page 34: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Soil Water Content and IrrigaJon
(unpublished data) 34
![Page 35: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Increased Plant Available Water
• Increases efficiency of a rain orirrigaJon event.
• PotenJal lower water requirements.
• Preserve water resources and lower producJon costs.
$$$$
35
![Page 36: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
IrrigaJon Level %Level %IrrigaJIrrigaJon Level
b/ac-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐ac-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐lb-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐lb/a
Peanut Yield (2002)
IrrigaJon on Level %%
Tillage 0 33 66 100
-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐l-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐lb//ac-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐c-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐-‐
Conv 3265 4267 4770 4681
Strip 3349 4506 4818 4958
1994-‐2001 state avg. 2787 lb/ac 36(Georgia Agricultural Sta@s@cs Service)
![Page 37: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Effect of cropping/Jllage system on soil Cfrom an eroded UlJsol in Georgia.
Bruce et al., 1995
Soil
Carb
on (g
kg
–1)
5
10
30
25
20
15
1984 1986 1988 1990Year
conversion to conventional till soybean
Grain sorghum no-till intocrimson clover
37
This slide illustrates how a specific rotation affects soil C levels in an Ultisol in Georgia over a period of time. You can see the most dramatic increase was in the most shallow depth. The graph also illustrates what happens when conventional tillage is introducedback into the system. The organic C levels drop very rapidly and fall back to levels equal to the lower depths.
![Page 38: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
Benefits of ConservaJon Systems
• Soil erosion control -‐ increased soilquality
• Increased water infiltraJon and storage – potenJally increase yields and profits
• Preserve water supplies (e.g. streams and lakes)
38
![Page 39: Conservation Production Systems – A Basic Review](https://reader031.vdocument.in/reader031/viewer/2022020917/61c28a4b5a07357c5b3e020d/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
ConservaJon Systems Research
Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd ed. Sustainable Agriculture Network. www.sare.org/publicaJons/ covercrops/covercrops.pdf
Schomberg, H.H., and K.S. Balkcom. Cover crops [Online]. Available at: www.soilquality.org/pracJces/cover crops.html
• More informaJon available at:
www.ars.usda.gov/msa/auburn/nsdl Subscribe to mailing list: NSDL-‐[email protected]
39