Effects of cover crop and tillage management practices on in situ and ex situ water infiltration parameters

Abstract

Water infiltration is important for improved crop productivity and environmental sustainability, but the combined effects of cover crops (CCs) and tillage on cumulative infiltration and infiltration parameters are not fully understood. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of CCs and tillage on cumulative water infiltration and infiltration parameters. The field was set up using a randomized complete block design with two levels of CCs (CCs vs no cover crop [NC]) and two levels of tillage (till vs no-till [NT]). The CCs used included winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), and the tillage included disc tillage (to a depth of 10 cm). Results showed that CCs and tillage significantly increased the Parlange and Green-Ampt model estimated sorptivity and saturated hydraulic conductivity parameters during 2022 compared with NC and NT, respectively. Additionally, KGuelph was significantly higher under CC compared with NC during both years, suggesting that CCs can increase groundwater recharge. While CC-Till management had the highest 2-h cumulative infiltration, tillage only significantly increased water infiltration during early times, and CCs increased water infiltration during the infiltration period. Conclusively, CCs can improve the ability of tillage to increase water infiltration.