TY - JOUR T1 - Influence of tillage systems on soil physical parameters and infiltration after planting JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 149 LP - 152 VL - 39 IS - 2 AU - M. J. Lindstrom and C. A. Onstad Y1 - 1984/03/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/39/2/149.abstract N2 - Simulated rainfall trials were conducted immediately after planting during the third crop year in a continuous-corn rotation of an established tillage experiment designed to evaluate the effects of residue harvest on soil physical properties. Tillage systems were (a) fall moldboard plow, spring disk; (b) fall chisel plow, spring disk; and (c) modified no-till. Each tillage plot was split, and corn stover was harvested each year from the same half of the plots. Commercial harvesting equipment was used to remove about 70% of the above-ground plant material. Soil physical parameters measured at the time of simulated rainfall were (a) random roughness, (b) bulk density, (c) saturated hydraulic conductivity, (d) penetrometer resistance, and (e) pore size distribution. Residue harvest in the first two crop years had no measurable effect on the soil physical properties. The plots differed in bulk density, penetrometer resistance, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and pore size distribution in the Ap horizon, but not in the lower horizons. Artificial rainfall was applied at 5.6 centimeters per hour (2.2 inches) under relatively low energy (55% of natural rainfall energy) for 1 hour and then again for 45 minutes about 24 hours later. Water runoff and soil erosion differences were observed among the tillage treatments. The no-till system produced the greatest runoff regardless of residue harvesting. Soil erosion was greatest with the no-till system when residue had been harvested. The soil physical parameters measured indicated that the no-till system forms an undesirable surface condition characterized by high bulk density, high penetrometer resistance, low saturated hydraulic conductivity, and low volume of macropores, all of which can promote rapid water runoff under normal rainfall conditions. ER -