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Texas, USA 2010 - International Herbage Seed Group

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One of the reasons for using reduced tillage systems is to maintain soil organic matter levels andpotentially increase carbon storage in the soil. After three years, soil samples taken in this studyshowed that soil organic matter and soil carbon levels were similar under conventional oralternate year tillage systems in the 0-20 cm depth (Table 2). Soil organic matter and carbonwere stratified under continuous no-till due to accumulation of soil organic matter in the surfacelayer (0-5 cm depth). Below 5 cm, soil carbon in the continuous no-till was significantly less.Soil organic matter and nutrient stratification have been observed in previous no-till trials(Mellbye et al., 1999). Despite differences in tillage and organic matter distribution, totalaccumulation of soil carbon among treatments to date was similar (assuming similar soil bulkdensity). Results may change over time, but these data suggest alternate year tillage or plowingin annual ryegrass cropping systems can maintain soil carbon at levels similar to those achievedwith continuous no-till, at least over a short period of time.Table 2. Soil organic matter, soil carbon, and soil nitrogen levels from selected annual ryegrassestablishment systems (May 2009).Selected TreatmentsSoilDepth(cm)Soil OrganicMatter%)SoilCarbon(%)Soil Nitrogen(%)1.Continuous tillage 0-20 3.83 1.59 0.0902.Continuous no-till0-203.35.620.107Surface layer to 5cm0-54.321.920.103Below 5cm5-203.611.480.0774.Volunteer /conventional0-20 3.95 1.63 0.083(Tillage alternate years)6.Volunteer / no-till / conventional0-20 3.58 1.64 0.080(Tillage every third year)p level0.00020.00010.0102LSD (0.05)0.270.100.017241

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