Impact of Zero-tillage on Soil Quality Changes Under Crop Rotations and Fertilizer Treatments in a Black Soil

Assess whether or there has been a significant change in soil quality and/or yield trends in the 6 years since the field soil in this study were converted to no-tillage from conventional tillage.

IPNI-1997-CAN-SK19

01 Mar 1998

1997 Annual Interpretive Summary

Impact Of Zero-Tillage On Soil Quality Changes Under Crop Rotations And Fertilizer Treatments In A Black Soil, 1997

Increased organic matter, nutrient cycling, nutrient stratification and decreased pH in the upper soil surface are common soil changes attributed to zero-till management. But, there is little information about how zero-till management affects the ability of the soil to supply N and P to plants. In this project, soil samples from fertilized (N and P) and unfertilized crop rotations that have been direct seeded for six years are being compared to similar conventional till rotations. Producers need to know if a move to direct seeding will result in short-term, or even long-term, increases in N and P fertilizer requirements. This study should help answer that question. SK-19