What’s effect of tillage and crop residue management on soil physical properties & effect of tillage & residue management on enzyme activities in soils?
Incorporating crop residue with tillage practices have advantage through adding organic matter and carbon to the soil that are preconditions for the better physical, biological as well as for chemical properties. Allowance of crop residue to the soil surface reduces its bulk density and compaction. Leaving crop residue on the soil surface improves nutrient cycling and, ultimately, soil quality that will increase and sustain soil productivity. However, tillage has all along been contributing negatively to soil quality. Since tillage fractures the soil, it disrupts soil structure, accelerating surface runoff and soil erosion. Tillage also reduces crop residue, which help cushion the force of pounding raindrops. Tillage and residue management practices significantly alter enzyme activity in soil in diverse cropping systems. Reduction in the intensity of tillage and residue incorporation can substantially increase enzyme activity in soil which is an indication of better soil quality and sustainability of any cropping system. Removing crop residues from the field led to average SOC contents that were 12 and 18% lower than in soils in which crop residues were retained, in temperate and tropical climates respectively.
Tillage and residue management practices significantly alter enzyme activity in soil in diverse cropping systems. Reduction in the intensity of tillage and residue incorporation can substantially increase enzyme activity in soil which is an indication of better soil quality and sustainability of any cropping system. Enzymes to the soil promote rhizobacteria that promote plant growth while reducing dependence on harmful chemical fertilizers and improving crop yield at the same time. Soil enzymes also play a crucial role in the remediation of soil. Incorporating crop residue with tillage practices have advantage through adding organic matter and carbon to the soil that are preconditions for the better physical, biological as well as for chemical properties. Allowance of crop residue to the soil surface reduces its bulk density and compaction. Soil physical properties are directly related to crop residue and by decreasing the bulk density and increasing porosity there is increased potential for rapid capture of water greater infiltration, and increased water use efficiency for the system. However, tillage has all along been contributing negatively to soil quality. Since tillage fractures the soil, it disrupts soil structure, accelerating surface runoff and soil erosion. Tillage also reduces crop residue, which help cushion the force of pounding raindrops.
Crop residues can improve soil structure, increase organic matter content in the soil, reduce evaporation, and help fix CO2 in the soil. Good residue management practices on agricultural lands have many positive impacts on soil quality. Besides, crop residues can be used in biofuel production. Context specific incorporation or surface retention of crop residues could enhance soil organic matter and carbon storage, soil moisture retention, nutrient cycling, while decreasing soil loss, and providing other environmental and soil health benefits. Tillage and residue management practices significantly alter enzyme activity in soil in diverse cropping systems. Reduction in the intensity of tillage and residue incorporation can substantially increase enzyme activity in soil which is an indication of better soil quality and sustainability of any cropping system. Soil enzymes increase the reaction rate at which plant residues decompose and release plant available nutrients. The substance acted upon by a soil enzyme is called the substrate. As glucosidase cleaves glucose from glucoside a compound common in plants. Soil enzymes play an important role in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. Some enzymes only facilitate the breakdown of organic matter while others are involved in nutrient mineralization. Incorporating crop residue with tillage practices have advantage through adding organic matter and carbon to the soil that are preconditions for the better physical, biological as well as for chemical properties. Allowance of crop residue to the soil surface reduces its bulk density and compaction.Leaving crop residue on the soil surface improves nutrient cycling and, ultimately, soil quality that will increase and sustain soil productivity. Through conservation practices that include balanced residue management and soil fertility, environmental quality can be substantially enhanced. Residue management and conservation tillage allow for the management of the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year- round on crops grown where the entire field surface is tilled prior to planting.