Effects of zero and conventional tillage on the length and irregularity of elongated pores in a clay loam soil under viticulture

doi:10.1016/0167-1987(84)90051-5

Soil and Tillage Research

Volume 4, Issue 5, September 1984, Pages 433-444

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-1987(84)90051-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Total porosity and width, length and irregularity of elongated pores from thin sections, prepared from undisturbed Ap horizon samples taken from a zero versus conventional-tillage field experiment, were analysed by means of a Quantimet 720 System 23 image analysing computer. Both total porosity and elongated pore area were significantly higher in conventionally-tilled plots. On the contrary, both the total number of pores and the proportion of elongated pores were significantly higher in no-tilled plots. Thus, zero tillage reduced the size of pores. Conventional tillage caused an increase in the length of a few large, elongated pores which also showed very strong irregularity. In samples from no-tilled plots the total length of elongated pores was smaller, but these pores were more numerous and more regular than in samples from conventionally-tilled plots. Consequently, soil conditions for root growth were better.

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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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The paraffin-coated method is a well-used approach to measure the soil bulk density (BD). BD is a physical property of great importance for studies of soil quality and health. Therefore, representative measurements of this property are highly valued. Resin and paraffin wax are utilized to coat soil samples; however, if these materials ingress into the sample it could affect the representativeness of BD evaluation. The advance in three-dimensional (3D) image analysis techniques such as X-ray microtomography (μCT) offers a great opportunity to visualize and quantify the possible penetration of paraffin wax into clod samples. In this paper we investigated porous system morphological properties of soil samples coated with paraffin wax. The morphological properties of the pores filled with paraffin wax inside the samples were also studied. We observed qualitatively that samples with large pores close to their borders were more susceptible to the penetration of paraffin wax. Samples with pores >10 mm³ had the highest amount of paraffin wax into them. Triaxial shaped and complexly pores also offered less resistance to the ingress of paraffin wax. Positive relations between the amount of paraffin wax inside the samples and the volume of pores measured, pore tortuosity and degree of anisotropy were found. Conversely, the soil pore connectivity was not correlated with the penetration of paraffin wax into the samples, at least for the region of interest (≈27.3 cm³) studied. Finally, an analysis of the impact of paraffin wax ingress inside the samples in measured BD showed increments of ≈0.09 and ≈0.11 g cm⁻³ in this property when the paraffin wax penetrates into the large pores.
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Citation Excerpt :
A shape factor [perimeter2/(4π area)] was used to divide pores into three classes: regular (rounded, shape factor 1–2), irregular (shape factor 2–5), and elongated (shape factor >5), corresponding approximately to the classification used by Bouma et al. (1977). The pores of each shape group were further subdivided into seven size classes (50–100; 100–200; 200–300; 300–400; 400–500; 500–1000; >1000 μm) according to either their equivalent diameter (regular and irregular pores), or their width (elongated pores) (Pagliai et al., 1984). Moreover, on the basis of a functional criterion, transmission pores (50–500 μm) and fissures (>500 μm) were quantified (Greenland and Pereira, 1977).
Tillage practices have a major effect on soil C storage and cropping sustainability, due to their impact on soil aggregation, organic residue decomposition rate, OC dynamics, microbial abundance and diversity, N mineralization and nutrient availability.
Our research was aimed at assessing the long term effects of different tillage treatments on soil organic matter (SOM) quantity and quality and its evolution with time, in a loam textured-soil from central Italy cultivated with continuous maize. The tillage treatments included a conventional tillage (DP) by mouldboard ploughing to 40 cm depth, a ripper subsoiling (RS) to 40–45 cm, a shallow tillage by mouldboard ploughing to 20 cm depth (SP) and minimum tillage to 10 cm by disk harrowing (DH). The soil was sampled in 1999 and 2011 (after 5 and 17 years from the beginning of the trial, respectively), at depth increments of 0–10, 10–20, 20–30 and 30–40 cm and analysed for total organic C (TOC), OC recalcitrant and labile fractions by chemical hydrolysis, total N, bulk density, aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity.
After 17 year of treatments, the different tillage systems did not affect the overall amount of OC stored in a 0–40 cm equivalent soil mass; nevertheless, they produced significant differences in soil OC vertical distribution along the soil profile and OC recalcitrance. Both DH and RS increased soil TOC in the surface layer, with predominance of labile OC under DH and recalcitrant OC under RS. Differently, DP caused a net loss of recalcitrant OC, probably due to a detrimental impact on soil aggregate stability and, subsequently, on SOM physical protection. RS showed the largest potential for OC sequestration in stable form in the considered agroecosystem.
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Mechanical tillage represents the most common technique of soil management in olive orchards within the Mediterranean Basin. Such practice may result in soil structure degradation which can significantly reduce water infiltration causing runoff and erosion processes. An alternative opportunity is given by the use of cover crops which eliminates most of the disadvantages of conventional tillage. An experiment was carried out from 2007 to 2009 in a mature and rainfed olive grove located in Southern Italy with the aim to evaluate the effect of different soil management techniques on soil structure and soil water content and storage along the profile. The experimental site was characterised by a slope gradient ranging from 0 to 16%. Since 2000, the olive grove was subjected to two different management systems: sustainable system, SS (no-tillage, spontaneous vegetation cover, annual recycling of pruning material) and conventional system, CS (tillage, no recycling of pruning material). Modifications of soil structure induced by the two different management systems were quantified by micromorphometric analysis of macroporosity. Soil hydrological behavior was determined by field saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) measurements. Soil water content was measured at 10/15-day intervals by gypsum resistivity blocks placed in flat and steep areas (summit, backslope, and footslope) of both systems at different soil depths (25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 cm).
In the SS soil macroporosity was not very high (about 10%) but homogeneously distributed along the profile which favored the vertical water movement down to deeper horizons. In the CS the occurrence of soil crusting and of compacted layers along the profile hindered infiltration and percolation of rainfall water influencing the soil water content below the 100 cm layer. The SS was able to better store water from rainfall, received during the autumn–winter period, especially in the deepest soil layer (from 100 to 200 cm). This was evident especially in the steep area at the summit position, where the water amounts stored by SS were 45 and 17% higher than those retained by the CS in 2007 and 2009, respectively. During summer such reserves were available for the olive root systems which usually, under the driest conditions, explore the deep soil zone in search of water. Under our experimental conditions, no yield reduction was observed due to the prompt mowing of the spontaneous cover crops. Therefore, the suitable use of cover crops should be communicated to the olive farmers and strongly recommended within agricultural policy strategies for its evident agronomical and environmental benefits (increase of soil organic carbon, soil structure improvement, reduction of soil and water losses, carbon sequestration).
Consequences on macroporosity and bacterial diversity of adopting ano-tillage farming system in a clayish soil of Central Italy
2013, Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Citation Excerpt :
A shape factor [perimeter2/(4π area)] was used to divide pores into three classes: regular (rounded, shape factor 1–2), irregular (shape factor 2–5), and elongated (shape factor >5), corresponding approximately to the classification used by Bouma et al. (1977). Pores of each shape group were further subdivided into seven size classes (50–100; 100–200; 200–300; 300–400; 400–500; 500–1000; >1000 μm) according to either their equivalent diameter (regular and irregular pores), or their width (elongated pores) (Pagliai et al., 1984). Moreover, on the basis of a functional criterion, transmission pores (50–500 μm) and fissures (>500 μm) were quantified (Greenland and Pereira, 1977).
Conservation agricultural practices, such as no-tillage, crops rotation and balanced fertilization are increasingly adopted for maintaining soil fertility, improving crops health and reducing soil erosion.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the long-term adoption of contrasting tillage (no-tillage or conventional tillage) and N-fertilization (0 or 90 kg/ha N) practices on soil porosity and active bacterial communities in cropping system plots (sunflower–wheat or maize–wheat rotation) established on a clayish soil and under Mediterranean climate. Soil porosity was evaluated by micromorphological observations of soil thin sections. The composition and structure of the active bacterial communities were estimated by a culture-independent approach (reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction – denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, RT-PCR-DGGE) exploiting the 16S rRNA of bacteria and nirK, nirS and nosZ transcripts of denitrifiers. Finally, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to correlate microbial data with soil physical and chemical characteristics.
When repeated for a long period, no-tillage has significantly increased soil compaction compared to the conventional tilled soil. Soil compaction was likely responsible for creating a selective environment for active bacterial species. On the other hand, tillage favoured the richness and diversity of active soil bacteria by increasing the rate of diffusion of O₂ and the energy sources availability. A wide variability of active nirK denitrifiers was found in each soil management, while nirS denitrifiers were more closely related to lower porosity conditions. N fertilizer management seemed to affect mainly the active nosZ denitrifiers.
Our results suggested that conservation tillage practices on heavy clayish soils are not free of relevant side effects on soil porosity and bacterial soil communities.

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Effects of zero and conventional tillage on the length and irregularity of elongated pores in a clay loam soil under viticulture

Abstract

Soil Tillage Res.

The function of different types of macropores during saturated flow through four swelling soil horizons

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.

Fabric and Mineral Analysis of Soils

Soil damage by intensive arable cultivation: temporary or permanent?

Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. Ser. B.

Micromorphometric soil porosity characterization by means of electro-optical image analysis (Quantimet 720)

Methods in soil micromorphology. A technique for the preparation of large thin sections