How crop residue (residue return to soil by coverage or rotory) affect soli pH in a short term and long-term effect? The soil pH will increase or decrease, and why? thank you!
The effect of crop residues vary according to a number of factors. The dynamic for the residue effect is accelerated with the residue is of young plants and material with high Nitrogen content.
The decay and degradation is greatly accelerated by fragmenting the residues and incorporating them into soil. The effect of residues is usually to increase the pH of acid soil at least and organic matter is buffering effect on soil chemistry.
For example organic matter can be effect in dealing with acid soil infertility and toxicity. The raise in pH from the resides will depend on the type maturity and tillage mainly.
When residue is used for a long term effect as in suppressing weeds the use of rollers which do not fragment the residue will prolong the mulch effect. The shredded and incorporated residue into the soil will show an accelerated curve and less long term effect.
The Rodale Organic No Till technique depends on maintaining the residues on the surface without their fragmentation thus can give maximum soil protection and prolong the positive mulch effect. If residue can prevent the advancement of weeds for 30 to 40 days most row crops will not experience weed competition losses.
The no till and residue effects can be highly beneficial to maintaining and increasing soil organic matter and use of fuel for tillage can be minimized.
Paul is correct, but retention of residues can cause disease problems and the whole crop management system needs to be considered. That said reduced tillage and erosion are big benefits.
Paul Milham is right that residues can be a source of disease issues while tillage by custom should be discouraged when a legitimate issue merits it there can be utilization selectively. For instance the issues of subsoil acidity can be better effected by using deep incorporation compacted layers can sometimes merit a tillage intervention.
check this article may be help you
Article Impact of crop residue management on crop production and soi...
The major source for life in the soil is the crop residues. Ideally these are used for vibrant communities of earthworms and microbes.
The compaction of our cultivated soils is often not completely considered. This ppt on earthworms and organic no till may be useful for envisioning coupling our mechanized farming with systems of production which can increase the soil and productivity as they are employed.
Paul Reed Hepperly Thank you for sharing your PPT to me, from which I learn more of your work,
it's really pretty good job, and it encouraged me so much. In China, we are facing lots of problems, such as soil degradation, acidification and soil compaction, etc.
but to the point we have realized and began to develop conservation agricultual practice and may be it's a long way to go. It's really appreciate for kind help. keep touch and have good day.
Incorporation of crop residues will principally stimulate soil microbial activity and amongst others the availability of macro and micronutrients. Particularly in acids soils a temporarily increase of alkalinity might be observed related to organic anions decomposition. But the effect will vary as a function of the type of organic residues and their organic anion content, soil properties and agronomical management. Therefore results may be inconsistent.
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