Table 1 Selected physico-chemical properties of soils under zero tillage and conventional tillage*

From: To what extent can zero tillage lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from temperate soils?

Tillage

Depth (cm)

Bulk density (Mg m−3)

Shear strength (MPa)

Soil moisture (%)

pH

SOM (%)

NH4-N (mg kg−1soil)

NO3-N (mg kg−1soil)

Microbial C (mg kg−1soil)

Microbial N (mg kg−1soil)

Zero tilled

0–10

1.16 ± 0.04

25.7 ± 1.47

31.29 ± 1.40

6.98 ± 0.13

7.81 ± 0.44

2.59 ± 0.10

0.66 ± 0.05

591.8 ± 55.0

104.9 ± 7.92

 

10–20

ND**

ND

27.90 ± 1.36

7.32 ± 0.10

7.41 ± 0.42

2.42 ± 0.08

0.45 ± 0.04

442.2 ± 26.6

77.3 ± 5.11

Tilled

0–10

1.09 ± 0.04

12.0 ± 1.12

26.98 ± 1.06

7.22 ± 0.14

6.59 ± 0.42

2.51 ± 0.16

0.62 ± 0.06

434.9 ± 44.3

73.4 ± 5.11

 

10–20

ND

ND

24.96 ± 1.11

7.29 ± 0.13

6.15 ± 0.40

2.30 ± 0.14

0.54 ± 0.06

402.5 ± 39.7

66.6 ± 3.79

  1. *Mean ± Standard Error of mean (n = 33).
  2. **ND- not determined.
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