The no-tillage system is perceived as having lower soil temperatures, wetter soil conditions, and greater surface penetration resistance compared with conventional and other conservation tillage systems. Concerns associated with the effect of the no-tillage system on certain soil physical properties (i.e. soil temperature, moisture, and compaction) prompted this study to evaluate the effect of ...

Conservation tillage combined with cover crops or mulching may enhance natural enemy activity in agroecosystems by reducing soil disturbance and increasing habitat structural complexity. In particular, weed seed predation can increase with vegetation cover and reduced tillage, indicating that mulches may improve the quality of the habitat for weed seed foraging. The purpose of this study was to...

The principles are discussed of bench terracing and deep tined tillage, on the level contour, appliedto selected shallow soils on steep slopes of the Ifafa area on the Natal south coast. Results from 36 month old timber (Eucalyptus grandis) and [4 month old sugarcane (N16) grown on bench terraces are reported and compared with current practices. The implications of this site-specific technique ...

Tillage has been an integral part of crop production since crops were first cultivated. Growers and scientists have long recognized both beneficial and detrimental aspects of tillage. There is no question that most tillage operations promote soil loss, adversely affect (lower) surface water quality, and negatively impact soil productivity. Weed management is a primary reason for tillage, and un...

This paper reviews research performed at the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Germany into the impact of different tillage systems on soil properties and quality. The impact of intensive soil tillage treatments on several soil properties was described by means of selected data obtained through long-term interdisciplinary research. The experiments were based on comparative application (long-...

Because of payoff uncertainties combined with risk aversion and/or real options, farmers may demand a premium in order to adopt conservation tillage practices, over and above the compensation for the expected profit losses (if any). We propose a method of directly estimating the financial incentives for adopting conservation tillage and distinguishing between the expected payoff and premium of ...

high intensity evaporation from the soil surface due to low air humidity and poor soil structure and organic matter are constraints of agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions of iran. regionally, maintaining plant residue with tillage management is one method to improve these conditions. in this study, for a barley-corn rotation, four barley residue management methods for standing stubble (bu...

Strip tillage with various crop covers in peanut (Arachis hypogaea, L.) production has not shown a clear yield advantage over conventional tillage, but has been found to reduce yield losses from some diseases. This study was conducted to determine pod yield and disease incidence between two tillage practices, five winter cover crops, three peanut cultivars, and three fungicide programs. Convent...