Long-term effect of conservation tillage on structural properties and organic carbon in aggregates of a Mediterranean loamy soil
Year: 2010
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: The architectural arrangement of the soil matrix determines the functions required for plant growth and the sustainability of the ecosystem. In agricultural lands inadequate tillage management leads to a decline in soil structure and, consequently, soil degradation, but little is known about the impact of the tillage practices on the individual aggregate properties. The understanding of mechanical properties of aggregates is crucial to explain the macroscale functions of the soil system because the properties of aggregates may differ from those of the whole soil due the dynamics of aggregate formation. In semiarid Aragon (NE Spain), particular soil and climate characteristics make this region prone to land degradation by wind and water erosion. Conservation tillage has been proposed as a management alternative to preserve soil and water resources in this area. The objective of this work was the evaluation of the long-term effect of conservation tillage after (20 years) on structural properties of soil aggregates and the role that SOC plays in these properties.
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1584059530