Posted 08 March 2004. Crop Management.

Lowering CO₂ Loss in Fall Tillage

United States Department of Agriculture.

Washington, D.C. (March 8, 2004) - Using a chisel plow during fall tillage will maintain surface residue and minimize soil disturbance, which in turn will reduce carbon dioxide loss, according to Agricultural Research Service scientists in Auburn, Ala.

Plant physiologist Stephen A. Prior and agricultural engineer Randy L.
Raper of the ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory at Auburn are
studying CO₂ loss and how it relates to the farm equipment used and the
time of year tillage takes place. While some CO₂ always escapes to the
atmosphere, losing too much of it during tillage may hurt the
environment and can reduce soil productivity.

The scientists looked at loamy sand soil in east-central Alabama to see
how much CO₂ escaped due to the plowing of a grain sorghum field.
Discing caused more CO₂ release than chisel plowing, because greater
soil disturbance results from discing. Plots of land that were not
tilled had low levels of CO₂ loss, similar to those of fields that were
chisel plowed.

Reduced CO₂ loss was also found in plots where tillage was delayed until the spring. Leaving the crop residue in place over the winter months and postponing tillage until spring slows residue decomposition and protects the soil during winter rains.

Contact:

David Elstein

Agricultural Research Service, USDA

(301) 504-1654

delstein@ars.usda.gov