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Seed-Zone Temperature and Moisture Conditions under Conventional and No-Tillage in Alaska

5269 Harborside Dr., Tampa, FL 33615

G. S. Campbell

Dep. of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164

R. I. Papendick

USDA-ARS, Land Management and Water Conservation Res., Washington State Univ.

R. F. Cullum

USDA-ARS, National Sedimentation Lab., Oxford, MS 38655

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Identification of tillage and residue management options that favor crop production and promote soil conservation is an important research objective. A study was conducted to compare seed-zone temperature and moisture conditions under conventional and no-tillage regimes during stand establishment of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in interior Alaska. The approach was to monitor soil temperature and moisture conditions in a conventional tillage and a no-tillage plot, and to develop and apply a mechanistic model of heat and moisture transport for partially frozen soil-crop residue systems. The model simulates temperature and vapor density profiles and radiation transfer within the crop residue canopy and soil temperature and soil water matric potential. Both measured and simulated results indicated that the no-tillage soil was cooler and wetter than the conventional tillage soil. The average daily difference between simulated temperature at the 6-cm depth was 2.5°C during the 54-d simulation period. Simulated matric potential of unfrozen soil at the 6-cm depth varied between –12 and –45 J kg^–1 for conventional tillage and between –3 and –5 J kg^–1 for no-tillage. Simulations indicated that the average difference in soil temperature at the planting depth was reduced by 31% when the no-tillage planting depth was decreased to 3 cm, and this practice may be used to exploit the greater moisture availability under that management to obtain more favorable seed-zone conditions.

Departmental Paper no. 9101-61.

Received for publication January 10, 1992.