This diploma project reviews impact of conservation tillage on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Conservation tillage is an alternative to conventional tillage with plough. Main trait of this form of tillage is less soil disturbance and ground covered with plant residues (30 % or more) after planting. With conservation tillage we reduce fuel consumption, disturbance of organisms is lower, soil water retaining ability changes and the daily soil temperature amplitude is decreased. Benefits of conservation tillage lead to smaller stress for crops, which is later resemble in sustainable yield. In the first part of diploma project changes on soil properties after conservation tillage are reviewed and in the second part a review of data collected from test plots in northeast Slovenia (Moškanjci) is presented. The conclusion of diploma indicates that conservation tillage represents a part of sustainable agriculture but should be implemented slowly. New technology require new knowledge. More attention should be dedicated to crop rotation, weed control and planting dates. When conservation tillage is carried out correctly, same yields with lower fuel consumption are achived, in comparison to conventional tillage. To get all improved properties for soil, conservation tillage should be implemented constantly more than a decade.
|
