Contribution of tillage systems on the organic matter of Gley soil and the productivity of corn and soybean

Abstract

To evaluate the behavior of the organic matter in the profile of Gley soil and the productivity of corn and soybean in a temperate climate (Experimental Station of the University of Purdue - West Lafayette - Indiana - United States - Long: 86° 55' W and Lat: 40° 26' N). The effects of six treatments were studied, derived from three different tillage systems: conventional tillage, minimum tillage, and no tillage, with two successions of crops (soybean-corn and continuous corn), in an experiment conducted in the period of 1980 to 1995, with an experimental design of randomized blocks constituting six treatments arranged in subdivided parcels (split-plot), with three replications. In the experimental plots the treatments of succession of crops and the sub-plot were established with the systems of soil management. The subplot was constituted by three tillage systems: conventional tillage, minimum tillage, and no tillage. The soil samples originating from five depths and 11 positions and the data of productivity were analyzed, taken in a transversal line from the plot. With the results it can be concluded that: a) the percentage of organic matter increases in the superficial layer as the movement of the soil diminished, in the following sequence: no tillage system > minimum tillage system > conventional system; b) system of conventional tillage provided greater values of corn yield when associated to continuous crop and in succession with soybean; when compared with conservation tillage; and c) in the conditions of a temperate climate and hydromorphic soil, the content of organic matter showed a relation inversely proportional to productivity, with a smaller performance for the succession of soybean and corn.