Soil management effects on aggregate dynamics in semiarid Aragon (NE Spain).
During decades, in semiarid rainfed Aragon, intensive soil tillage and low crop residue input have led to the loss of soil structure and soil degradation. Conservation tillage and cropping intensification can improve soil structure in these areas. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of three different tillage systems (traditional tillage, reduced tillage and no-tillage) under two cropping systems (fallow-barley rotation and barley monoculture) on soil aggregation dynamics during a cropping season. A decrease in tillage intensity resulted in a higher mean size of dry aggregates and a greater water aggregate stability in both cropping systems particularly under no-tillage.
Alvaro-Fuentes
Jorge
J
Departamento de Suelo y Agua. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), POB 202, 50080-Zaragoza, Spain. jorgeaf@eead.csic.es
Arrúe
José Luis
JL
Gracia
Ricardo
R
López
María Victoria
MV