| Popis: |
Soil degradation, the depletion of productive capability, resulting from agriculture practices is of growing concern across Canada (Anonymous, 1984). On the poorly drained soils of southwestern Ontario, soil degradation is evidenced by a gradual deterioration of soil structure resulting from intensive row crop agriculture (Ketcheson, 1980; Stone et al., 1985). The soil structure of the surface 0.30 m appears to deteriorate to an equilibrium level under conventional corn production and is considered compact (McKeague et al., 1987; Ketcheson, 1970). Crop rotation and conservation tillage for corn and soybean production appear to have little effect on reversing soil structural deterioration (Stone et al., 1987; Stone and Heslop, 1987; Stone et al., 1985). The objective of this experiment is to contribute to the development of row crop management by the determination of the minimum amount of tillage required to obtain yields equivalent to conventional tillage (fall moldboard plow) in a corn-soybean rotation and determination of the effect of reduced tillage on soil structure. Land Stewardship Program (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food) |
