Hardpans (plough/hoe pans) are commonly believed to restrict plant root growth and crop yields under conventional small-scale agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. This study questions the notion of widespread hardpans in Zambia and their remedy under conservation tillage. Soil penetration resistance was measured in 8x12 grids, covering 80 cm wide and 60 cm deep profiles in 32 soil pits. Large and...

Soil degradation is one of the most topical environmental threats. A number processes causing soil degradation, specifically erosion, compaction, salinization, pollution, and loss both organic matter biodiversity, are also strictly connected to agricultural activity its intensification. The development adoption sustainable agronomic practices able preserve enhance physical, chemical, biological...

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) database contains general soils information, but data available in STATSGO cannot be readily extracted nor parameterized to support regional environmental quality modeling. As such, each user must individually and repeatedly process data in STATSGO to obtain necessary soil properties. The objective of this study was...

Quantifying crop residue cover on the soil surface is important for improving estimates of surface energy balance, net primary productivity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. Quantifying crop residue cover is also an important factor in controlling soil erosion and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation tillage practices. By reducing the movement of eroded soil into streams and ...