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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #86235
Title: TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND CROP PRODUCTION IN THE SUBHUMID AND SEMIARID ARGENTINEAN PAMPAS

Author
item BUSCHIAZZO, DANIEL - INTA-EEA, ARGENTINA
item PANIGATTI, JOSE - INTA, ARGENTINA
item Unger, Paul

Submitted to: Soil & Tillage Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Crops have been grown in the subhumid and semiarid Argentinean Pampas for over 50 years. The tillage methods used involve mostly intensive plowing that was introduced from the more humid regions of the country. These intensive tillage methods have resulted in soil degradation due to erosion by wind and water, which has been moderate to severe in the subhumid and semiarid Argentinean Pampas. Experiments to control erosion through use o conservation tillage systems were started in the 1970s and 1980s and conducted for 5 to 11 years at six semiarid and subhumid sites. The results of these studies show that most soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were improved by conservation systems, but that the rate of change differed due to climatic differences among sites. The difference due to tillage generally was greater at the more humid sites than at the drier sites. Crops that require a large amount of nitrogen yielded less with conservation than with conventional systems. Based on the results of these studies, we conclude that use of conservation tillage can improve or stabilize soil conditions in the region, but adequate plant nutrients must be provided to achieve optimum crop yields when conservation tillage is used.

Technical Abstract: Crops have been grown in the subhumid and semiarid Argentinean Pampas for over 50 years using tillage methods (intensive plowing) introduced from more humid regions. As a result, soil degradation due to erosion by wind and water has been moderate to severe. Experiments to control erosion through use of conservation tillage systems were initiated in the 1970s and d1980s and conducted for 5 to 11 years at six semiarid and subhumid sites. In this paper, we summarize the effect of conventional and conservation tillage treatments on some soil properties and crop yields. Most soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were improved by conservation systems, but the rate of change differed due to climatic differences among sites, with the difference due to tillage generally being greater at the more humid sites than at the drier sites. Crops with high N requirement yielded less with conservation than with conventional systems. Use of conservation tillage can improve or stabilize soil conditions in the region, but crop nutrient requirements must be met to achieve optimum crop yields when conservation tillage is used.