]. Agronomy &. Crop Science 177, 253—259 (1996)©1996 Bkckwell Wissetischafts-Vedag, BeriinISSN 0931-2250

[Skater Technology Ctntn/or Eastern Rigon, Indian Council ef Agricultural Risean/i (ICAB), Bhuhawsiyar, Orissa-751 016, India

Influence Of Tillage On Soil Aeration

A, R. KHAN

Author's address; Dr A, R. KHAN, Senior Scientist, Water Technology Centte for Eastern Region (ICAR),Chmdrasekhaipur, Bhubmeswar, Otissa-751 016, India

Rimotd Jatiiutry 10, 1996; acapuijum 17, 1996

Abstract

Au- porosity of soil can be altered by tillage. Therefore, it plays a significant lole in. protecting plants against deficientaeration during critical petiods of their life cycle. The effect of five till^e treatments (tnouldboard, cultivator, rotarytiller, wedge and zero tillage) and three mulch treatments (paddy straw, rice husk and bare) on the soil osygendif&ision rate (ODR) during the various growth phases of peanut crop [Artuhis Hyp^aea L.) were invest;^ted on alateritic sandy loam soil (utilsol). These expetwieats were conducted for two consecutive seasons. ODR values wereliigher in tiDed plots. Among tillage tteatments, the highest ODR was recorded under moutdboatd(60.51 X 10" gcm"^min~'), followed closely by cultivator (57.65 x 10" 'gcm"'mm"') , and it was lowestunder rotary tiller (46.29 x 10"' g cm"' min"'). During the kter growth stages and also in lower soil depths, thefliffcretices between the values of ODR narrowed down. Amotig mulch treatments, plots with rice husk{53.98 X 10 g e m ' min~ ), had the higher ODR values. Bulk density was lower, whereas total and aerationporosity wete higher, under mouldboard and cultivator. Soil temperatxires were also higher under mouldboard andcultivator tilled plots.

Key words: Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR), tillage, bulk density, mechanical impedance, aeration porosity, soiltemperature.

Introduction A limiting oicygcn supply wiQ also restrict thedevelopment of a root system even in tincom-

The aggregate-pore-water relationship in soil is pacted soil (LETEV et al, 1962). Restricted oxygenprobably the most important iiucro-environment supply to the peanut roots reduce the nilxogenfor plant growth which is influenced by tillage. It fixation and aeration in peanuts (KEESE et al.is the site of intimate contact between soil 1575). LBMON (1962) reported the root environ-particles, water, temperature and air. The aggre- rnent as a solid-liquid matrix depending upon soilgate, as the solid phase of the soil, controls the structure and moisture condition, Cotnpactionquantity and distribution of both water and air. caused a reduction in air porosity at field capacityThe theory of gaseous diffusion in soil to include from 21 to 9% (DASBERG and AMIB 1969).the presence of varyii^dod sizes as generated by Management practices often seek to maintain atillage was advanced by CUWUE (1961). He soil physical condition favourable for a soilassumed a spherical aggregate model and from aetatiotl pathway. Tillage practices influencethis predicted the percentage of the aggregate many soil properties (BLEVINS et al. 1977, UNGER«iitre that will be anaetobic. This depends on the 1991, CAMPBEIX and ZENTOER 1993, VYN andi e, porespace and water content of the RABCBAbXT 1993, BAUER and BLACK 1994, EGH-

"ggregate, BALL et al. 1994, LAL et aL 1994, RASMUSSEN and

L.S ci yright dcmma Cmt= s<«™=.c 0931 -2250/96/7704-0253$ 11.50/0

254 KHAN

Seedlmgemergence

stags

Flowering stage

2nd year

10 20 0

Soil depth (cm)

10 15 20

Fig. t. Oxygen diffiision rate (ODR) as influenced byand flowering stage of peanut crop

tillage (T) treatments during seedling

PARTON 1994). MiELKE et al. (1986) also reportedabout the physical envirotiment near the surfaceof ploughed and non-tilled soils. The assessmentof the importance of soil aeration for variousplant characterisdcs and environmental condi-tions would increase our undeistanding of theoxygen relations of crops. FOUNTAINE (1959)stressed the need for more infofmation on theoxygeti requirement of soils so that tillagecqtiiptnent could be designed that would openup the soil to an appropriate degree,

Thete is litde research information available onthe effect of tillage on soil oxygen flux, especiallyin the tropics. The objective of the experimenttcported here was to determine the ODR of thesoil as influenced by varying tillage and mulchpractices during various growth stages of peanutcrop.

Materials and Mcthoda

The field study was carried out on kteHtic sandyloam soil (typic, acrorthox, kaolinitic, ultisol) in thecoastal belt of eastern India for two consecutiveseasons, "Hie eiqjerimental soil hits about 65,14,16,60 and 18.26 % sand, silt and clay, respectively- Ithas m JiiftK bulk density of 1.55gctn"^ pH 5,8, 1/3bar moisture 14.30% and 15 bar moisture 4.5%,oi^ank matter 0.40 % and void rado of 0.71, Theexperiments weic planned according to a split plo'desigti, main plots representing tillage trcalincncsand subplots representing mulSi treatments, wirfithree replications. The treatments were:

Mainploua) Zero tillage (Tj) — Plots were tiot ploughedb) Wedge (T2) — Ploughirig widi wedge plough +

disk harrowing

Influence of TiJlage on Soil Aeration 255

c) Rotary tillet fTj) — TilHng the soil with totaiytiller

d) Culthrator (Ti) — Ploughing with a culdvitor +disk hairowing

c) Mouldboard fTj) — Ploughing with a mould-board plough + disk hanrowing

Subplots

a) Paddy straw mulch (Mj) — Soil surface coveredwith paddy straw @ 7 tons ha~

b) Rice husk mulch (M£) — Soil surface coveredwith rice husk @ 7 tons ha~ '

c) Bare (M3) — Widiout mulch.

The depth of p l o u ^ u n g with each tilkge treatmentwas 15 cm. T h e peanut culttvai TMV-2 (110 daysdutauon) was planted at a distance of 45 cm betweenthe rows and at 15 cm distance between the plants.Four irrigations were given with 6 ran depth oflnigadon water i t 0.75 //E ratio as recommendedfor potential peanut yield in this agro-dimadc zone(KHAN and D A T T A 1982), where / tcpresents irriga-tion and E represents cumulative pan evaporationminus r a i n M .

O D R measurements were made with the plati-

num micro-electrode technique {LETBY and STOLZY

1564). Measurements were taken at the depths of 5,

10, 15 and 20 c m below the soil surface by inserting

the electrode to the proper depth each time just prior

to reading. ObservTidonal data were recorded five

times daily at 4 h intenrds throughout the growth

phases of peanut crop. Three observations were

made for each subplot treatment and five electrodes

were used for each site to avoid variability from

location to location.

Bulk density and total porosity were measured

with a micro-relief meter (BHUSHAN et al. 1973). Soil

temperatures were recorded twice daily with a

thermocouple amplifier (KHAN et al. 1977). The soil

strength (mechanical impedance) was meisuted by a

ball point impact type pcnctrometer (KUMAR et aL

1971). Aeration (non-capilkry) porosity of soil is the

volume percentage of soil occupied by air filled voids

without reference to any specific soil water suction

and measured by a portable air picnometer (TAYLOR

1972).

6 0

50

E

Ol 2 06 .Z 1 0ITQ oO

I 50I 10

^ 3 0

10

0

Pegging stage

Pod formation stageand at harvest

1st year

Pod formation stageand at harvest

2nd year

10 1 0IS 20 0 5

Soil depth (ctn)

%• 2. Oxygen difiiision rate (ODR) as influenced by varying tillage (T) treatments during pegging, podfotmitbn and at harvest of peanut crop

256

Pegging stage

— o - a id yaar

*• 1st year

Pod formation stageand at harvest

Rowering stage

10 15

Soil depth (crri)

Fig. 3. Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) as influenced by varyii^ mulch (M) tteatments during different stagesof peanut crop

Results and Discussion

ODR as a function of soil depth during differentgrowth phases of peanut under tillage treatmentis shown in Figures 1 and 2, and under mulchtreatment in Figure 3. An abbreviated table ofmean values for ODR per treatment and seasontogether is also presented in Table 1.

Tillage operations gave significantly higherODR values than untiUed plots. Among thetillage treatments, the highest ODR was recordedunder mouldboard fallowed closely by cultivatorand it was lowest with zero tillage. The variousmulches did not have any significant affect onODR, but bare soil reduced ODR comparedwith mulch treatments. Plotting curves of treat-ments shows a parabolic trend against soil depth.It niay be because of a systematic bias in thepiacement of the electrodes. The data shows thatODR decreased considerably with time in alltreatments. This trend continues till harvesting

because of the settlement of soil particlesthe lapse of time which increases the bulkdensity. It was also observed from the data thitODR decreased with increasing in soil depth.LBTEY and STOLZY (1964) and MOHSIN and KHAN

(1977) also reported lower values at deeper soildepths due to increase of resistance componwits

Son bulk density and total porosity, which areinterrelated as the latter is estimated from theformer, had direct bearing on the physiccdaphlc properties, i.e. soH aeration, soilperature and tnechanicat impedance. Bulk densiwof the soil tilled with mouldboard and cultivatorwere lower than that of the soil plou^edwedge plough and rotary tiller Cl'able 2). The soilunder zero tillage had the majomum bulk densitvand hence the minimutn porosity. Higher valuesof bulk density were observed under llthan under convcntiona] or plougji(BRUCE et al. 1990, RHOTON et al. 1993,

Influence of l l k g e on Soil Aendon 257

Table 1. Mean Osygen Diffusion Rate (ODR) Values dunng the growing season of peanut crop asicflueoced by varying tillage (T) and mtilch (M) treatment

Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR), 10

TtEitment

T,T2

T,T4

T5LSD 0.05

M=M2

Mj

LSD 0.05

5

30.552.146.357.660.5

1,9052.554.048.5

6.50

1st YearSoil depth, cm

10

36.443,840.649.050.6

2.0645.146.140.6

5.8t

15

34.042,238.345.947.6

2.0242.644.138.2

5.92

20

25.133.330.237.940,1

1.9034.236,029,8

7.02

5

41.551.446,556,257,6

1.9152.053,446,8

7.60

2nd YearSoil depth.

10

30.339.935.943.644.9

1.9040.241.734.8

7.75

cm

IS

Zl.l35.431.940.141.3

1,9136437.831.fi

7.02

20

22.429,425.133.935.4

1.9030,231.725.8

7.28

Tsble 2. Effect of tillage (T) treatments on bulk density, total porosity, aeration porosity, penetrationresistance (&-15 cm) and soil temperature during the seedling emetgetKe stage of peanut crop

Treatment

1st yearT,T2

T3

T4

LSD 0,052tid yearT,T2

T*T,LSD 0.05

Bulkdensity.gcn)-^

1,71.21.31.21.10.02

1.71,21.31.21.20,01

Penetrationresistance.

kPa

9210562063805440519025,0

9940579066305660530036.0

Tota]porosity.

%

37.054.750.255.857.7

2.06

36,654.049.454,755.5

2.05

Aerationporosity.

%

13.732.029.232.934.4

1.89

14.032.927.133.835,1

1,90

5

19.220.419,421.321.2

2.06

22.423,322.322.223.7

2.06

Sou temperature, °C

Soil depth.

10

22,420.820.321.021,2

1.70

21.622.621,822.522.9

1,93

cm

15

20.021,920.421.621.9

2.06

21,121.922,922,022,2

2,06

20

20,221,420,621,921.7

2.06

21.622.423,022.122.6

2.08

and RAIMBAULT 1993), HAMBUN and

(1979) also reported the lowest porosity with zero•iliage. Penetration resistance (mechanical impe-dance) was significantly lower in tilled plotscotnpared to zero tillage. Among the tillagetreatments, resistance offered by the soil tilled•" th mouldboard, cultivator and wedge was

significandy lower compared with rotary tiller.TTie increase in bulk density would increasepenetration resistance and decrease the totalporosity, and in most cases this reductionoccurred at the cost of aeration porosity (KHAN1984). Lower aeration porosities for zero tillage

that at higher water content, this

258 KHAH

treatment is likely to affect plant growthadversely because of the restricted gas exchange.The same observation was reported by GANTZERand BLAKE (1978).

SoH temperatures were also higher in thesurface layer of tilled plots than with zero tillage.Ploughing caused a decrease in soil reflectioncoefficient and exposed the darker, more energyabsorbing soiL That is why tiie soil ploughed withmouldboard and cultivator warmed up morerapidly than untillcd and rotary tiller ones (Table2). Similar findings were also reported by GATESand HANKS (1967) and KHAN (1988). Oxygenrequirement varied witk the stage of plantdevelopment, increasing with increases in soiltemperature (WILUAMSON 1964). ODR is alsotemperature dependent. An increase in tempera-nire decreased the solubility of oxygen andincreased the diffusion coefficient through bothgas and liquid (LETEY and STOLZY 1964). KHANand MOHSIN (1976) reported 1.4 % " C ' increasein sandy loam soil.

Zusanunenfassung

BinfluB der Bodenbeatbcitung auf die Boden-belaftung

Die Luftporositat des Bodens kann durchBodenbearbeitung gcandert werden. Bodenbear-beitiing spielt daher cine bedeutende Rolie zumSchutz der Pfianzen gegen mangelnde Boden-bduftung wahrend kdtischef Phasen in ihremEntwicklungszyklus. Der EinfluC von 5 Boden-behandlungen (Pflijgen, Kulivator, Bodenfrase,Schlitzbearbeitung und ohne Bodenbearbeitung)sowie drei Mulchbehandlungen (Reisstroh, Reis-spelzen und ohne Mulchbehandlujig) auf dieBodensauerstoff-Diffusionsrate (ODR) wahrendverschiedener Wachstumsphasen von Erdnufl(Arathis Hypogaea L.) wurdeti auf einem lateri-dschen Sandlehm (UWsol) untersucht. Die Ex-petimente wurden in zwei aufeinanderfolgendenAnbauperioden durchgefuhrt. Die ODR-Wertewaren tn bearbeiteten Flachen hoher. Unter denBodenbearbeitungsbehandlungcn wurde derhochste ODR-Wcrt fiir Pflugbeditigui^n(60.51 xlO~'gan"^niin" ' ) , gefolgt von derKuldvatorbehandlung (57,65 x 10~*gcm~^min" ) gefunden; der niedrigste Wert fand sichfiir das Frasen (46^9 x 10"*gcm~^min""').Wahrend der spateren Wachstumsstadien undebenso in gedngercr Bodentiefe verringerten sichdie Unterschiede zwi&chcn den ODR-Wertcn.

Unter den Mulchbehandlungen hatten Flachenmit Rcisspebten die hoheren ODR-Wertc(53,98 X 10"* gcm~^ min"'). Die Bodendichtcwar unter Pflug- und KultivatorBearbeitunggeringer, wahrend die Gesamt- und Luftporositathoher waren. Die Bodentetnperaturen warenebenfalls unter Pflug- und Frasbearbeitunghoher.

References

BAUER, A. and A. L. BLACK, 1994: Quantification of theeffects of soil oiganic mittet content on soil produc-tivity. Soil ScL Soc. Am. J. 58, 185-193.

BHUSHAN, L. S., S. B . VARADE and C. P. GUPTA, 1975:Influence of tiJlage practices on clod site, porosity andwater retention. Indian J. Agr. Sd. 43, 466-471.

BLEVINS, R. L., G . W. THOMAS and P. L. CoRpoEi,!VS,1977: Influeace of no-tillagc and nitrogen femliiadonon certain soil properries after S years of contmuouscom. Agron. J. 69, 383-386.

BRUCE, R. R., G . W. LANGDALE and A. L. DILLAJD,1990: Tillage and crop rotation effect on character-isrics of sandy surface soil Soil Sd. Soc. Am. J. 54,1744-1747.

CAMPBELL, C. A and R- P. ZENTNER, 1993: Soil orgiimcnatter as influenced by crop rotations and fertiliza-tion. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57, 1034-1040.

CuKRiE, J. A., 1961: Gaseous diffusion in the aeration ofaggregated soiJs. Soil Sd. 92, 40.

DASBERG, S. and J . AMR, 1964: Tillage expenments vrithpeanuts. Agron. J. 56, 259-262.

EGHBAJJ, B., L. N . MIELKE, D . L. MCCALUSTER andj.W. DoRAN, 1994: Distribution of organics carbon mninoigatuc mtrogcn in a soil under various tillage isicrop sequences. J. Soil Water Conserv. 49, 201-205.

FouiJTAiNE, E R., 1959: Meded. Landbnoogesh.op^oekstIls. Gent. 24, 377.

GANTZER, C. J. and G. R. BLAKE, 1978; Phj icilcharacteristics of Le Sueur diy loam soil following notill and conventionil tUkge. Agron. J. 70, 853-857.

GATES. D . N . and R. J. HANKS, 1967: Plant factoraffccdng cvapotranspiration. In irrigation of agntu "tvmJ lands. Arn. Soc. Agron. Monograph no. 11,1-li

HAMBUN, A. P. and D. TENNANT, 1979: Interactionsbetween soil type and tillage level in a drj'landsituation. Aust. J. Soil Res. 17, 177-189.

TAYLOR, S. A., 1972: Physical Edaphology, W. H.Freeman and Co., San Francisco.

KEESE, C. W., J . S. DENTON, E. A. HILLER and J. S.NEWMAN, 1975: Inigation practices in peanut produc-tion in Texas. The Texas Agril Exp. Sta., U3.D.A. 9.42-47.

KHAN, A. R., 1988: Effect of tillage on soil temperawrt'Imem. Agrophysics. 4, 317-324

, 1984: Studies on tillage induced physical edaphitproperties in rdatbn to peanut crop. Soil Tillage Res.4, 225-236.

Influence of Tillage oti Soil Aeration 259

and B. DATTA, 1982: Scheduling of irrigation forsummer peanuts. Peanut Sci. 9, 10-13.

, B. K. MATMUK and B. DATTA, 1977: Fabricatiofl

and perfonnance of themiocouple amplifier for soilttmperatute measurements. Res. Ind. 22, 174-177.

and M. A. MoHStN, 1976: Oiygen diffusion ratemeter for use in soils. Res. Itid. 21, 89-92.

KLMAii, V., K. T. MAHAJAN. B . P. GHILDYAJ;. and S. B.

VABADE, 1971: A new penetrometer for easy evalua-tion of soil strength. J. Indian Soc Soil Sd. 19,227-230.

LJU, R., A. A. MAHBOUBI and N. R. FAUSEY, 1994: Long-

terni tillage and rotiticm effects on properties of acentral OHo soil. Soil Sd. Soc. Am. J. S8, 517-522.

LEMON, E. R., 1962: Soil aetation and plant rootrelations. I. theory. Agron. J. 54, 167—170.

LETEY, J. and L. H. STOLZY, 1964: Measurement of

oxygen diffusion rates with platinum microelectrode.f%iKlia. 36, 545-554.

. , N. VALORAS and T. E. SZUSZKIEWICZ,

1962: Infiuence of soil oxygen on growth and mineralconcentration of Barley. Agton. J. 54, 538-540.

MJHLKE, L. N . , J . W. DORAN and K. A. RICHARDS, 1986:

Physical environment near the surface of plowed andno-tilled soils. SoU Tillage Res. 7, 355-366.

MoHSsN, M. A. and A. R. KHAN, 1977: Fabticadan andperfortnance of oxygen diffusion rate meter usingplatinum micro-electtodc system. IL RISO. 26, 99-111.

RASMUSSEN, P. E . and W. J. PAHTON, 1994: Long-term

effects of residue management in wheat-fallow. 1.Inputs, yield, and soil organic matter. SoiJ Sci. Soc.Am. J. 58, 523-530.

RHOTON, F. E., R. R BRUCE, N . W. BUEHRING, G . B.

EufJNS, C. W. LANGDAIE and D. D. TYLER, 1993:

Chemical and physical characteristics of four soil typesunder conventional and no-tillage systems. Soil TillageRes. 28, 51-61.

UNGER, P. W., 1991: Oiganic matter, nutrient, and pHdistribution in no- and conventional tiikge semiatidsoUs. Agron. J. 83, 186-189.

VYN, T . J. and B. A. RAamAULT, 1993: Long-term effeaof five tillage systems on com response and soilsmicmre. Agron. j . 8S, 1074-1079.

WILLIAMSON, R. E., 1964: The effect of root aeradon onplant growth. Agron. J. 28, 86-90.