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Delaying tillage and incorporation of arable crop residues in autumn may limit accumulation of soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) and reduce nitrogen (N) leaching. However, on clay soils, high water content during late tillage can impair soil structure and fertility. This study investigated the effects of tillage timing on SMN (0–90 cm depth), soil physical properties in the topsoil and yield in two Swedish clay soils differing in clay content. SMN generally increased during autumn and also with earlier tillage. On a heavy clay soil (Ultuna; ∼60% clay), SMN increased throughout winter until spring and the amount of N leached was probably small. In contrast, on a clay loam soil in southernmost Sweden (Rydsgård; ∼35% clay), SMN decreased during winter by up to 26 kg ha−1. In general, measured soil water content (w) was lower than 0.9 × plastic limit (PL) at the time of early tillage (mouldboard ploughing or stubble cultivation), while it exceeded 0.9 PL at the time of normal and late tillage. The proportion of small aggregates produced by tillage was negatively correlated to relative soil water content at the time of tillage (w/PL). Conventional methods to determine soil physical qualities (bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, aggregate tensile strength) did not show any clear differences between treatments. However, plant emergence and yield were significantly reduced after late compared with early tillage at Ultuna, a trend that has persisted from 2000 until the present. These results suggest that the suitability of delayed autumn tillage as a means to reduce SMN accumulation and N leaching varies between Swedish clay soils. A reduction in N leaching can be achieved on lighter clay soils in warmer and moister areas, whereas the effects may be small on heavier clay soils in central Sweden, where repeated late tillage carries a risk of yield reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced tillage is proposed as a method of C sequestration in agricultural soils. However, tillage effects on organic matter turnover are often contradictory and data are lacking on how tillage practices affect soil respiration in northern Europe. This field study (1) quantified the short-term effects of different tillage methods and timing on soil respiration and N mineralisation and (2) examined changes in aggregate size distribution due to different tillage operations and how these relate to soil respiration. The study was conducted on Swedish clay soil (Eutric Cambisol) and compared no-tillage with three forms of tillage applied in early or late autumn 2010: mouldboard ploughing to 20-22 cm and chisel ploughing to 12 or 5 cm depth. Soil respiration, soil temperature, gravimetric water content, mineral N and aggregate size distribution were measured. The results showed that respiration was significantly higher ( P < 0.001) in no-till than in tilled plots during the 2 weeks following tillage in early September. Later tillage gave a similar trend but treatments did not differ significantly. Soil tillage and temperature explained 56 % of the variation in respiration. In the early tillage treatment, soil respiration decreased with tillage depth. Mineral N status was not affected by tillage treatment or timing. Soil water content did not differ significantly between tillage practices and therefore did not explain differences in respiration. The results indicate that conventional tillage in early autumn may reduce short-term soil respiration compared with chisel ploughing and no-till in clay soils in northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid, uniform crop establishment is a precondition for efficient crop production. In order to develop guidelines for seedbed preparation and sowing, extensive experiments were carried out in plastic boxes placed in the field directly on the ground for studies of the effects of seedbed properties on crop emergence. This paper deals with the effects on emergence of cereals caused by surface-layer hardening, induced by simulated rainfall (irrigation) after sowing followed by dry weather. The experimental crop was spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Soils for the experiments (Eutric Cambisols, silt loam or clay loam in most cases) were collected from the surface layer of farm fields in various parts of Sweden. On soils with high silt content, irrigation after sowing often caused slumping and subsequent hardening of the whole seedbed. On clay soils, usually only a shallow surface crust formed. The earliest irrigation had the most negative effects on crop emergence. On a silt loam soil with unstable structure, irrigation with only 5 mm reduced emergence to under 20%. Later or heavier irrigation was often less negative, as it allowed the plants to emerge before the surface layer dried and hardened. Deep sowing greatly increased the negative effects on emergence, whereas soil aggregate size usually had negligible effects. It was concluded that when sowing in practice, seedbed preparation and sowing depth should be chosen to promote the fastest possible emergence. Sowing immediately before rain should be avoided, as should shallow sowing that requires rain for the seed to germinate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study measured the specific draught (force per cross-sectional area of worked soil) and the energy use for soil fragmentation and straw incorporation using different tillage implements (mouldboard plough, 80mm tine with and without wings, 210mm sweep share, 80mm rigid and vibrating tines) on a clay and a loam soil. Tine widths of 50, 65, 80 and 120mm were compared in a separate experiment. Draught was calculated from measurements of fuel consumption and driving speed during tillage, while tillage depth was determined by weighing the loosened soil, which was also sieved to determine the aggregate size distribution and surface area. Measured values of specific draught were compared with model computations. Specific draught was much higher for the rigid 80mm tine than for the mouldboard plough and sweep share. On the clay soil, specific draught was 65kNm−2 for the mouldboard plough, 140kNm−2 for shallow tillage with the rigid tine, 98kNm−2 for the vibrating tine and 65kNm−2 for the sweep share. The vibrating tine had a much lower energy use for soil fragmentation than the rigid tine. The sweep share also had a low energy use for fragmentation, but the poorest incorporation of straw. On the loam, differences between treatments were generally smaller than on the clay. There were small differences in specific draught and soil fragmentation for different tine widths. For the different tines and shares, the measured specific draught was considerably higher than values from model computations. Overall, there were great differences in draught requirement and tillage outcome for the different tillage tools. The results show the importance of adjusting the tillage tool to achieve the desired tillage outcome in terms of soil loosening, soil fragmentation or incorporation of plant residues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Autumn tillage strategies designed to reduce leaching losses of nitrogen (N) from arable fields were examined on a medium clay soil (approx. 40% clay) in terms of their effects on accumulation of soil mineral N (SMN) during autumn and winter, crop N uptake, grain yield (spring-sown cereals) and soil structure over the long term (1997–2004). Tillage strategies included mouldboard ploughing (20–25cm depth) and stubble cultivation (10–12cm depth) in different combinations and timing, together with different options for straw management and catch crops. Postponing mouldboard ploughing from early September to early November significantly decreased SMN content during autumn and winter, although levels were generally low in all treatments. On average, the soil profile down to 90cm depth contained 30kgNha−1 in November and 27kgNha−1 in December with early mouldboard ploughing, while the corresponding figures for late mouldboard ploughing were 16 and 21kgNha−1. Stubble cultivation stimulated N mineralisation but the increase in SMN from tillage in September to November was only 3kgha−1 after stubble cultivation, compared with 8kgha−1 after mouldboard ploughing. Stubble cultivation before late mouldboard ploughing resulted in 6kgha−1 higher SMN during autumn than late ploughing without preceding cultivation. Postponement of mouldboard ploughing significantly decreased grain yield by on average 11% and this negative effect accumulated over time. A catch crop compared with no catch crop reduced SMN during autumn and winter by 3–5kgha−1 and had no significant yield effect. Effects of straw incorporation were small and could not be significantly proven either for SMN or yield. Transport of SMN to deeper layers was generally limited and SMN did not decrease during winter, indicating a minor impact of tillage time on N leaching risk. No significant changes in soil physical parameters were detected, but the results indicated poorer soil structure after tillage in late autumn compared with early autumn in terms of higher soil bulk density, lower aggregate stability in water, and lower infiltration rate. Overall, considering the short-term and long-term negative effects on yield and possibly soil structure, the benefit of delaying tillage seems small on this clay soil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]