ARS | Publication request: TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE PATTERNS FORM A CECIL SOIL

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 11, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The environmental significance of no-till crop production on water quality in the Southeast is not fully understood. Drainage from a Cecil sandy loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults,) near Watkinsville, GA was studied under conventional and no tillage. The experimental set up consisted of twelve plots, each 10 m by 30 m with subsurface drains set at 0.75 m depth. Drainage was a function of tillage, antecedent moisture and rainfall. Normally, drainage was 5 to 15% of rainfall from conventional tillage plots, and 25 to 40% for no-till plots. Maximum drainage intensity was less than 1mm/hr in conventional tillage plots, but up to 2.5 mm/hr in no-till plots. Under wet conditions October 1997), drainage on all plots was up to 70% of the rainfall at maximum rates between 6 and 8 mm/hr. Except under wet conditions, Cecil sandy loam drains more under no-till than conventional tillage.