Author
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Reicosky, Donald |
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Submitted to: International Soil Conservation Organization Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 5/28/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The magnitude of greenhouse gas emissions from soil degradation depends on land use, cropping systems and tillage intensity. Concern for soil quality and related environmental issues requires new knowledge to minimize agriculture's impact on the environment. Agricultural ecosystems can play a significant role in the production and consumption of greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide. Information is needed on the mechanisms and magnitude of greenhouse gas emission from agricultural soils with specific emphasis on tillage mechanisms. This work evaluates the impact of various conservation tillage tools and strip tillage on tillage-induced CO2 loss. Results showed the maximum CO2 loss following the moldboard plow with less CO2 loss from various conservation tillage tools and the least from no-till. Strip tillage decreased the amount of CO2 loss and appears to be related to the volume of soil disturbed by the tillage operation. Additional information on CO2 loss from the soil without using the portabl chamber was collected to characterize the plume of CO2 from a plowed strip 5.5 m wide by measuring the concentration up and downwind. Concentration differences decreased with time after tillage and were as large as 140 mmol mol**-1 immediately after tillage. The smaller CO2 loss from conservation tillage tools is significant and suggests progress in developing conservation tillage tools that can lead to soil carbon enhancement. Reducing the volume of soil disturbed through strip tillage should enhance soil and air quality by increasing the labile carbon content and decreasing the tillage-induced CO2 losses. These results suggest that soil and environmental benefits of less intensive tillage should be considered in soil management decisions. |
