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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138392
Title: TILLAGE-INDUCED CO2 LOSS ACROSS A LANDSCAPE AFTER 30 YEARS OF INTENSIVE TILLAGE

Author
item Reicosky, Donald
item Lindstrom, Michael
item SCHUMACHER, THOMAS - SD STATE UNIV.
item LOBB, DAVID - UNIV. OF MANITOBA

Submitted to: Soil Variability-Tillage Erosion Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil carbon (C)losses and soil translocation from tillage operations have been identified as causes of soil degradation and soil erosion that may contribute to global climate change. The objective of this work was to quantify the variability in tillage-induced CO2 loss by moldboard and chisel plowing across an eroded landscape and relate the C loss to soil properties. The study site was a 4-ha wheat field with rolling topography and three soil types in the Barnes-Langhei complex in west central Minnesota, USA (N. Lat. = 45 41', W. Long. = 95 43'). The field tillage history was primarily moldboard plow and disk harrow for the last 30 years. Soil properties were measured at several depths at a 10-m spacing along east-west and north-south transects that included severely eroded, moderately eroded and non-eroded sites. Conventional moldboard plow (25 cm deep) and chisel plow (15 cm deep) equipment were used along the pre-marked transects. Gas exchange measurements utilized a large, portable chamber within 2 m of each sample site following tillage. The measured CO2 fluxes were largest with the moldboard plow > chisel plow > not tilled (before tillage). The variation in CO2 flux in the north-south transect was nearly four-fold immediately after plowing. The CO2 loss was partially related to soil properties with lower CO2 flux on the severely eroded sites. The CO2 loss partially reflected the degradation of soil properties as a result of wind and water erosion and tillage-induced soil translocation. Extension of the global spatial variation across the landscape suggests non-point sources of soil C loss are complex. Improved conservation tillage methods are needed to maintain global soil and air quality in agricultural production systems.