LONG-TERM CONVENTIONAL AND NO-TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SELECTED SOIL PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES

Soil management systems can affect soil physical properties and, thus, have a direct bearing on crop performance. This study determined the effects of continuous long-term conventional and no-tillage management on selected soil physical properties and compared observed yield differences between these tillage systems with soil physical properties. Three Maryland locations, each having randomized complete-block designs with three replications of continuous corn under conventional and no-tillage management, were used. Although soil physical properties within the Ap horizon are not adequate to account for differences in corn yield response, tillage differences in soil physical properties were found for the soils at Sites 1 and 2, which had previously shown tillage yield differences. -from Author