Progress 02/06/06 to 02/05/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: These studies were intended to investigate possible relationships between tillage/cropping systems and activities of certain enzymes and mycorrhizal fungi. These studies concentrated on long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments with documented histories of fertilizer nutrient use. The experimental site was located on a semi-humid/subtropical soil (hyperthermic typic Ochraqualf) under non-irrigated conditions. No-till (NT), minimum till (MT) [2-3 tillage operations per annum and tillage depth of 7.5 cm or less], conventional tillage (CT) with 6-7 tillage operations per annum (15-cm depth) and deep moldboard (MLB) at 30-cm depth were included. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with crops (corn and cotton) as split plots. Each treatment was evaluated in four replicates. Research indicated positive influence of tillage intensity on mycorrhizal colonization of corn roots. Higher levels of colonization were indicated in long-term NT soil than in CT and MLB tilled soils. Soil enzyme activities, namely acid and alkaline phosphatases and dehydrogeneses appeared to be highest in NT and MT tillage systems which accumulated higher levels of surface crop residue. Enzyme activities in the soil were influenced by cropping systems with continuous corn showing higher levels than the monoculture cotton system. Earthworms (Aporrectodea trapezoides) activity (cast mounds)highly favored NT and MT systems when compared to MLB and CT. Corn cropping encouraged earthworm activity more than monoculture cotton while soil compaction was positively related with this activity. Corn grown in NT and MT systems produced 9 and 18% higher grain yields, respectively, compared to the CT system. No crops were harvested in 2010. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Allan Wright, University of Florida and Dr. Terry Gentry, Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M, Dr. John Zak, Texas Tech University, Dr. Larry Zibilske were collaborators. TARGET AUDIENCES: University, government researchers and Extension Specialists, also industry research and development personel PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Research from this project increased knowledge of production variables such as reduced tillage and cropping systems and their influence on soil microbial properties and plant nutrient availability. Development of sustainable soil management and viable crop production systems was based on long-term tillage and crop rotation studies. Improved soil quality,reduced dependency on chemical N fertilizer and reduced input of fossil fuel energy thru use of minimum/no-till and crop rotaion systems was demonstrated in this study and should aide in supplying adequate food and fiber for the U.S. and world needs at reduced costs.
Publications
- 1. Wiedenfeld, R.L. and J.E. Matocha, 2010. Planting Date, Row Configuration and Plant Population Effects on Growth and Yield of Dryland Grain Sorghum in Subtropical South Texas. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. Vol. 56, No. 1, 39-47.
- 2. Matocha, J.E. 2010. Effect of Starter Fertilizer Rate and Composition on Stand Establishment of Corn. Subtropical Plant Science Journal. 62:38-43.
- 3. Matocha, J.E., J.C. Wilborn, S.G. Vacek, M.A. Mathocha, S.M. Greenburg. 2010. Effect of Soil Properties, Chemical and Biological Treatments on Phymatotrichopsis Omnivora in Cotton. Agron. Abstracts. CD-ROM.
- 4. Matocha, J.E. 2009. Microbial Biomass Nitrogen and Carbon as Influenced by Season and Long-Term Tillage. Western Society of Soil Science Meetings, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Agron. Abstracts-CD-ROM.
- 5. Matocha, J.E. 2009. Grain Sorghum Response to Tillage, Crop Rotation and Fertilization. Southern Conservation Agricultural Systems Conference, 2009. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Agricultural Systems Conference. CD-ROM.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Studies continued to examine effects of long-term tillage and residue management practices on activities of selected soil enzymes and mycorrhizal fungi inoculums levels. Also, these studies were intended to investigate possible relationship between extractable soil P, activities of certain enzymes and crop yields. These studies concentrated on long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments with documented histories of fertilizer nutrient use. The experimental site was located on a semi -humid/subtropical soil (hyperthermic typic Ochraqualf) under non-irrigated conditions. No-till (NT), minimum till (MT) [2-3 tillage operations per annum and tillage depth of 7.5 cm or less], conventional tillage (CT) with 6-7 tillage operations per annum (15-cm depth) and deep moldboard (MLB) at 30-cm depth were included. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with crops (corn and cotton) as split plots. Each treatment was evaluated in four replicates. Severe drought extending over 13 months prevented seeding of indicator crops and therefore no crop growth or rhizospheric activity could be measured during the spring and summer growing season. Previous research indicated positive influence of tillage intensity on mycorrhizal colonization of corn roots. Higher levels of colonization were indicated in long-term NT soil than in CT and MLB tilled soils. Soil enzyme activities, namely acid and alkaline phosphatases and dehydrogeneses appeared to be highest in NT and MT tillage systems which accumulated higher levels of surface crop residue. Enzyme activities in the soil were influenced by cropping systems with continuous corn showing higher levels than the monoculture cotton system. Earthworms (Aporrectodea trapezoides) activity (cast mounds) highly favored NT and MT systems when compared to MLB and CT. Corn cropping encouraged earthworm activity more than monoculture cotton while soil compaction was positively related with this activity. Crop yields in 2009 were zero due to severe drought but in the year prior corn yields were six % higher in both the NT and MT systems as compared to CT. Moldboard tillage (MLB) at 30-cm depth reduced corn yields 13% and cotton yields 15% when compared to CT. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
This project examined relationships among changes in the soil/plant environment, micorrhizal fungi and soil enzyme activities as related to long-term reduced tillage and cropping systems. Results showed highly competitive crop production levels from no-till and minimum till systems were associated with trends toward higher mycorrhizal colonization on plant roots and higher soil enzyme activities as compared to conventional tillage systems. Soil enzymes and microbial activities were highest in continuous corn and lowest in continuous cotton. Results indicate systems developed with reduced fossil fuel energy needs can play a large role in development of sustainable soil management and crop production systems to ensure adequate food and fiber supply for the U.S. and world needs.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. and M. Richardson, 2008. Crop Rotation, Reduced Tillage and N Fertilization Effects on Corn Yields and Aflatoxin Levels. CD-ROM. Proc. Of Southern Conservation Systems Conf., Tifton, GA.
- Matocha, J.E., S.M. Greenberg, J.M. Bradford, J.C. Wilborn, 2008. Biofumigation and Soil Amendment Effects on Cotton Root Rot Suppression. CD-ROM. Proc. of Beltwide Cotton Research and Production Conf., Nashville, TN.
- Matocha, J.E., S.M. Greenberg, J.M. Bradford, C. Yang and J.C. Wilborn, 2008. Soil Amendment and Biofumigation Effects on Cotton Root Rot Suppression. CD-ROM. Agronomy Abstracts, National/International Meetings, American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society.
- -Matocha, John E., S.M. Greenburg, Joe Bradford and James Wilborn. 2008. Soil Amendment and Biofumigatioin Effects on Cotton Root Rot Suppression. Agronomy Abstracts CD-ROM, (Div. S-3) Annual Meetings of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America. Houston, TX.
- -Matocha, J.E., J.C. Wilborn, S.M. Greenberg, J.M. Bradford, C. Young, T.J. Gentry and Ping Hu. 2009. New Strategies to Reduce Cotton Root Rot in Texas Cotton. Abstract in Proceedings of 2009 Texas Plant Protection Conference. p 35. College Station, TX.
- -Matocha, J.E. 2009. Microbial Biomass Nitrogen and Carbon as Influenced by Season and Long-Term Tillage. Agronomy Abstracts CD-ROM, Western Division of Soil Science Society of America, Annual Meetings. Fort Collins, Co.
- -Matocha, J.E., Terry Gentry, S.M. Greenberg, J.M. Bradford, C. Young, James Wilborn and Robert Nichols. 2009. Controlled Release Fungicides, Soil Amendments and Biofumigation Effects on Cotton Root Rot Suppression. Technical article in Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. CD-ROM. Beltwide Cotton Conferences. San Antonio, TX.
- -Wilborn, James, John E. Matocha and Duane Gardiner. 2009. Impact of Reduced Tillage on Soil Phosphorus and Cotton Yields. Technical article in Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. CD-ROM. Beltwide Cotton Conferences. San Antonio, TX.
- -Hu Ping, Autumn Wang, Amanda Engledow, John Matocha, Tony Provin, Frank Hons and Terry Gentry. 2009. Inhibition of Phymatotrichopsis omnivora Germination and Growth in Soil Following Application of Various Oilseed Meals. Agronomy Abstracts CD-ROM, (Div. S-3). Annual Meetings of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America. Pittsburg, PA.
- -Hu Ping, Autumn Wang, Amanda Engledow, John Matocha, Tony Provin, Frank Hons and Terry Gentry. 2009. Inhibition of Phymatotrichopsis omnivora (Cotton Root Rot) Germination and Growth in Soil Following Application of Various Oilseed Meals and Isothiocyanates. Abstract in Proceedings of 2009 Texas Plant Protection Conference. p 32. College Station, TX.
- -Wiedenfeld, Bob and John Matocha. 2009. Planting data, row configuration and plant population effects on growth and yield of dryland sorghum in subtropical South Texas. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. 56:1, 39-47.
- -Wilborn, James. 2009. The Impact of Reduced Tillage on Soil Phosphorus and Cotton Yields on a Calcareous Soil Master of Science Thesis. Texas A&M University at Kingsville, TX.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
Objectives of the revised project H-8234 are: To examine the effect of long-term tillage and residue management practices and cropping systems on activities of selected soil enzymes; to study the effect of tillage and cropping systems induced changes in the soil/plant environment on soil microbial diversity fungi inoculum levels; and to investigate relationships between soil organic C, activities of enzymes, extractable soil P/N and crop yields. Field and laboratory research is being conducted on major soils used in production of crops in the Coastal Prairie region of south Texas. Most of these studies concentrate on existing long-term tillage experiments with documented histories of fertilizer nutrient use. These long-term tillage experiments include the following systems: no-till (NT), minimum till (MT) [2-3 tillage operations per year and tillage depth of 7.5 cm or less], conventional tillage (CT) with 6-7 tillage operations per year (15-cm depth) and deep moldboard
(MLB) at 30-cm depth. Tillage systems are being studied as main blocks in a randomized complete block design with crops as split plots. All treatments are studied in four replicates. Corn and cotton are the indicator crops. Soil samples are being collected during the active growing season for analyses of soil enzyme activities including acid and alkaline phosphatases, dehydrogenese, and arylsulfatase activity. Additional assaying for activities of soil enzymes such as Alpha and Beta- glucosidases is being included in the study. Severe drought during the winter and spring seasons of 2006 prevented stand establishment of both crops and therefore significant progress in initiating the new studies was not possible until 2007. Initial evaluations of soils prior to rhizospheric activity indicated some possible influence of tillage intensity on mycorrhizal colonization of corn roots. Long-term no-till soil appeared to show somewhat higher levels of colonization as compared to CT and MLB
tilled soils. Additional studies on mycorrhizal colonization are planned. Preliminary results from enzyme studies indicate NT and MT treatments which accumulated surface crop residue generally produced higher levels of certain soil enzymes. Cropping system influenced soil enzyme levels with continuous corn producing higher enzyme levels than continuous cotton. Continuous cotton resulted in the lowest levels of soil microbial and enzymatic activities. Additional studies on soil enzymes and microbial diversity are continuing. Yields of dryland corn approached 240 bu/ha with both MT and NT treatments producing slightly higher yields than CT system. NT cotton yields were 90% of CT yields and equaled MT yields. Deep tillage failed to influence cotton or corn yields.
Impacts
Improvements in soil quality and reduction of fossil fuel energy use should be achievable goals in developing sustainable crop production systems. Increased knowledge of factors influencing soil microbial properties and plant nutrient availability is extremely pertinent to development of sustainable soil management and crop production systems. This project examines relationships among changes in the soil/plant environment, mycorrhizal fungi, soil enzyme activities and soil organic carbon as related to reduced tillage and crop production.
Publications
- Chilcutt, C. and J.E. Matocha, 2007. Effects of Crop Rotation, Tillage, and Fertilizer Applications on Sorghum Head Insects. Journ of Econ Entomol. 100 (1): 88-94.
- Matocha, John E. and James Wilborn. 2007. Sorghum and Soybean Rotation Influence on Cotton Yields as Affected by Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization. CD-ROM. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Systems Conference. June 25-27, 2007, Quincy, FL.
- Matocha, John E., Harvey Buehring and Jim Massey IV. 2007. Adoption of Reduced Tillage Practices in Coastal Bend Area of South Texas. Proceedings of National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference. Pp. 63-65. January 29-30, 2007, Houston, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. and James Wilborn. 2007. Influence of Plant Nutrition and Chemical Treatments on Phymatotrichopsis Omnivora in Cotton. Proceedings of Western Soil Science Society, American Chemical Society and AAAS Joint Conference. P. 28. June 18-20, 2007, Boise State University, Boise, ID.
- Wilborn, James, J.E. Matocha and D. Gardiner. 2007. Soil Phosphorus and Crop Yields as Affected by Long-Term Tillage Variables. CD-ROM. Proceedings of National/International Meetings of American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society.
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
H-08234 project was revised with the following new objectives: To examine the effect of long-term tillage and residue management practices on activities of selected soil enzymes. To study the effect of tillage and residue management induced changes in the soil/plant environment on mycorrhizal fungi inoculum levels. To investigate relationships between soil organic C, activities of enzymes, VAM inoculum, extractable soil P/N and crop yields. Field, laboratory and greenhouse research is being conducted on two major soils used in production of crops in the Coastal Prairie region of south Texas. Most of these studies concentrate on existing long-term tillage experiments with documented histories of fertilizer nutrient use. These long-term tillage experiments include the following systems: no-till (NT), minimum till (MT) [2-3 tillage operations per year and tillage depth of 7.5 cm or less], conventional tillage (CT) with 6-7 tillage operations per year (15-cm depth) and
deep moldboard (MLB) at 30-cm depth. Tillage systems are being studied as main blocks in a randomized complete block design with crops as split plots. Each tillage treatment and crop will be studied at two P rates. All treatments are studied in four replicates. Corn and cotton are the indicator crops used in this study. Additional soil samples will be collected from 0-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm depths during the active growing season for laboratory analyses for soil enzyme activities including acid and alkaline phosphatases, dehydrogenese, and arylamidase activity determinations. Additional assaying for activities of soil enzymes such as glycosidases (Alpha and Beta- glucosidases and Alpha- and Beta galactosidases) and phosphodiesterase will be included in the study. Cotton and corn seedlings will be grown under the optimum soil moisture and temperature conditions in the greenhouse for three weeks. The sections of root tissue stained and examined for VAM colonization. Root lengths will be
quantified by percent colonization using the grid-line intersect method. Crop yield data will be evaluated in conjunction with extractable soil P, tissue P concentration and meaningful relationships will be described. Further potential relationships between enzymatic activities, mycorrhizal colonization and extractable soil P as influenced by tillage intensities and residue management will be examined. Ultimately, these soil analytical data will be studied in respect to fertilizer nutrient response and crop yield. Severe drought during the fall, winter and spring seasons of 2005-2006 prevented stand establishment of both crops and therefore significant progress in initiating the new studies was not possible in the first year. Preliminary evaluations of soils prior to rhizospheric activity indicated some possible influence of tillage intensity on mycorrhizal colonization of corn roots. Long-term no-till soil appeared to show somewhat higher levels of colonization as compared to
conventional and moldboard tillage.
Impacts
Improvements in soil quality and reduction of fossil fuel energy use should be achievable goals in developing sustainable crop production systems. Increased knowledge of factors influencing soil microbial properties and plant nutrient availability is extremely pertinent to development of sustainable soil management and crop production systems. This project examines relationships among changes in the soil/plant environment, mycorrhizal fungi and soil enzyme activities as related to reduced tillage and crop production
Publications
- Matocha, John E. 2006. Impact of Crop Rotations and Tillage Frequencies at Varying Nitrogen Fertility on Corn Yields. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Systems Conference. CD-ROM. Amarillo, TX.
- Matocha, John E. and X. Liu. 2006. Nitrogen Fertilization and Tillage Influence on Selected Soil Microbiological Properties. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Systems Conference. CD-ROM. Amarillo, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. 2006. Influence of Tillage, Crop Rotation and Phosphorus Fertility on Grain Sorghum Yields. Proceedings of World Congress of Soil Science. CD-ROM. Philadelphia, PA.
- Matocha, J.E. and J.M. McGray. 2006. Chlorosis and Growth of Grain Sorghum as Affected by Soil Solution Bicarbonate and Soil Moisture Regimes. Abstract in Proceedings of Texas Plant Protection Conference. Pg. 14. College Station, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. and M.P. Richardson. 2006. Tillage Effects on Certain Soil Properties and Cotton Yields. Agronomy Abstracts CD-ROM, (Div S-6), Annual Meetings of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America. Indianapolis, IN.
- Kenty, Michael, Roger Bowman, Donald Howard, John Matocha. 2006. Two Year Evaluation of CoRon Based Nutritional Systems for Cotton Production. Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. CD-ROM. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, TX.
- Matocha, John E., and Michael Richardson and James Wilborn. 2006. Suppression of Phymatrotrichopsis Root Rot on Cotton with Improved Nutrition and Chemical Fungicide. Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. CD-ROM. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, TX.
- Matocha, John E. and James Wilborn. 2006. Reducing Soil Applications of N by Foliar Feeding of Cotton. Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. CD-ROM. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, TX.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Plant nutrient availabilities and crop productivity are influenced by tillage and cropping systems management. Field and laboratory research was conducted on major soils in the Coastal Prairies Region of South Texas. Long-term tillage and cropping systems studied included no-till (NT), minimum till (MT), conventional (CT) and deep tillage (30 to 40cm) as moldboard or chisel plows. Major crops of cotton, corn and grain sorghum were used as indicator crops. Each tillage system and crop were studied at two levels of phosphorus (P) fertilization on selected soils. Tillage treatments were evaluated as main blocks in a RCB design with crops as subplots and P levels as split-plots. On Victoria clay, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), was greatest under MT followed by NT and CT because of crop residue accumulation and minimum soil disturbance. Most consistent maintenance of higher SMBC was measured with NT. Soil microbial biomass N (SMBN) and mineralized N were highest in
surface layers of NT soil. Similar treatment response in selected microbiological properties was observed on the Orelia sandy clay loam. Soil organic carbon and soil organic matter increased 39 percent in NT soil as compared to soil subjected to CT. Additional benefits included substantial decreases in pH of this NT calcareous soil in the surface and concomitant increases in available soil P. Earthworm activity increased some 250% in NT and MT soils in comparison to the CT system. Worm activity was greater in wheel traffic rows, which had higher soil bulk densities than non-traffic rows. Additional benefits from reduced tillage on soil properties affecting soil quality that have been measured include higher soil aggregation with larger size aggregates with greater stability. Influence on soil aggregation was most pronounced in the surface two layers of soil. Comparisons of MT and NT effects with CT have shown improved crop yields with longevity of these studies. Cotton yields from NT
have equaled or exceeded those from CT and deep tillage. Recent lint yields on Victoria clay measured 7.2 bales per hectare for NT and 6.9 for CT. Tillage comparisons for the Orelia soil were less favorable for NT and MT systems compared to clay soil. Crop yields showed no response to applied P regardless of tillage system. Crop rotation using cotton as alternate crop favored grain sorghum yields at levels ranging from 12% to a high of 51%. The higher percentage increase was measured at zero N fertilizer input while the lower rotation benefit was recorded with N fertilization. Using soybean in the rotation improved the rotation benefit (+112%) over yields for continuous sorghum. The rotation effect from grain sorghum on cotton yields was not as strong and generally ranged from a low of 14 to a high of 22% yield increase over continuous cotton. These results on benefits from crop rotation have become very important as costs of energy inputs into N fertilizer manufacture continue to
rise sharply. New research on soil mycorrhizal colonization of corn and cotton roots and soil enzymatic activities as influenced by long-term tillage systems has been initiated.
Impacts
Development of soil management and sustainable crop production systems, which emphasize conservation of fossil fuel energy and plant nutrient use efficiencies is important. Improvements in soil quality can be a function of tillage management, soil fertility and cropping practices. Results of this project thus far indicate no-till and reduced till systems are viable alternatives to conventional tillage with benefits of improved soil quality, crop yield stability and protection of our non-renewable natural resource, soil.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. and M.P. Richardson. 2005. Impact of Tillage Intensity and Cropping Systems on Anecic Earthworm Activity. Agronomy Abstracts CD. Annual Meetings of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Matocha, J.E. and M.P. Richardson. 2005. Conservation Tillage, Crop Rotation and N Fertilization Effects on Corn Yields and Aflatoxin Levels. Proceedings (Abstract) of Texas Plant Protection Conference, College Station, TX.
- Kenty, Michael, D.L. Howard, J.E. Matocha, Roger Bowman. 2005. Evaluating a Systems Approach for Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization of Cotton Across the Southern States. Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference CD. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, New Orleans, LA.
- Wright, Alan L., Frank M. Hons, John E. Matocha. 2005. Tillage Impacts on Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics of Corn and Cotton Rotations in South Texas. Applied Soil Ecology, 29 (2005) 85-92.
- Matocha, J.E. and M.P. Richardson. 2005. Influence of Long-Term Tillage Intensity on Soil Properties and Cotton Yields. Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference CD. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, New Orleans, LA.
- Matocha, J.E. 2005. Long-Term Conservation Tillage Effects on Soil Properties and Cotton Yields. Proceedings of National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference. Houston, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. 2005. Twenty Five Years of South Texas Tillage Research. Proceedings of South Texas Tillage Strategy Conference. Kingsville, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. 2005. Long-Term Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Impact on Soil Microbial Biomass. Agronomy Abstracts CD. Soil Science Society of America Western Section Annual Meetings, Ashland, Oregon.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Tillage management significantly affects soil physical properties, which can influence biological and chemical transformations in the rhizosphere. These changes can in turn influence plant nutrient availabilities and crop productivity. Field and laboratory research is being conducted on major soils in the Coastal Prairies Region of South Texas. Long-term tillage systems which include no-till (NT), minimum till (MT), conventional till (CT) and deep tillage (30-40 cm) are being evaluated as main blocks in a RCB design with crops as subplots and phosphorus (P) rates as split-plots. Soil properties including soil pH, extractable N, P, K, soil aggregation and microbiological properties as functions of tillage intensity variables are being characterized. Yields of major crops, cotton, corn and grain sorghum are also being documented. In conservation tillage experiments located on the Orelia sandy clay loam major crops, grain sorghum and corn responded to varying tillage
intensities and in certain cases to phosphorus fertilization. A strip till treatment (ST) was added to the long-term experiments in 2004. No-till grain sorghum production in South Texas has faced serious challenges in maintaining respectable yields due to weed pressure. Our research results for 2004 give much needed optimism to this system of producing grain. Grain yields from no-till were 33% higher than yields from deep moldboarding (30 cm) and 22% greater than sorghum grown with CT. Strip tilled sorghum produced 92% of grain yields measured in the no-till system. Sorghum response to phosphorus fertilizer occurred only in the NT system with a 30% yield increase. No response to phosphorus was recorded in the ST or CT systems. However, the tillage system with maximum disturbance of soil particles [30-cm moldboard plow, (MLB)] showed a 14% grain yield increase due to phosphorus fertilization. This amazing difference in sorghum response to phosphorus fertilization due to tillage
intensity may be explained by the alteration of soil chemical elements in the rhizosphere, which can influence the availability of phosphorus. Soil inversion resulting from the deep moldboard operation moved the calcium carbonate and bicarbonate to the surface soil layer, thus reducing the plant availability of indigenous soil phosphorus. Corn grown in split-plot comparisons with the sorghum under these same conditions generally produced grain yields slightly higher than those for sorghum. The effects of tillage intensity on corn again showed lower yields for deep MLB and chisel treatments, and were similar to those on sorghum with zero tillage producing higher yields than strip-till or CT. Earthworm activity (EA) was measured across the major tillage systems for both corn and cotton. No-till soil for both crops showed 200-300 percent increase in EA as compared to CT and 400-500 percent increase when compared with MLB. Earthworm activity was greatest in wheel traffic areas where soil
compaction was highest. New research on soil mycorrhizal colonization on root/soil interfaces as influenced by tillage intensity is being initiated.
Impacts
Development of soil management and sustainable crop production systems, which emphasize conservation of fossil fuel energy and plant nutrient use efficiencies are important. Improvements in soil quality can be a function of tillage management, fertility and cropping practices. Results of this project thus far indicate no-till and reduced till systems are viable alternatives to conventional tillage with benefits of improved soil quality, crop yield stability and protection of our non-renewable natural resource, the soil.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E., S.G. Vacek and M.P. Richardson. 2004. Effect of Selected Fungicides and Other Treatments on Cotton Root Rot Suppression. Plant Disease Council. 2004 Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, Texas. CD Pp 428.
- M.P. Richardson and J.E. Matocha. 2004. Selected Foliar CoRON Application as an Aid in Cotton Fertility Management. 2004 Proceedings of Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, Texas. CD Pp 2558-2566.
- Kenty, M., J. Thomas, D.D. Howard, J.C. Banks, S. Osborne, C. Burmester, B. Mina, N. Buehring, M. Harrison, J. Camberato, C. Craig, D. Dunn, G. Stevens, K. Edminsten, G. Harris, M. Holman, J.E. Matocha, S. McConnell, A.M. Stewart, and B. Weir. 2004. Evaluating CoRon (R) Based Nutritional Systems for Cotton Production. 2004 Proceedings Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Technical Conference. Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Antonio, Texas. CD Pp 2620-2625.
- Wright, Alan L., F. M. Hons and J. E. Matocha. 2004. Tillage Impacts on Microbial Biomass and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics of Corn and Cotton Rotations in South Texas. Abstract in 2004 Agronomy Abstracts. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI. CD Pp 00.
- Matocha, J.E. 2004. 25 years of South Texas Tillage Research. Proceedings of South Texas Tillage Strategy Conference. Pp. 1-8.
- Matocha, J.E. 2004. Suppression of Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot on Cotton through Plant Nutrition. Proceedings of Texas Plant Protection Conference, College Station, TX.
- Wright, Alan L., Frank M. Hons, John E. Matocha. 2004. Tillage Impacts on Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics of Corn and Cotton Rotations in South Texas. Applied Soil Ecology. (In Press)
- Matocha, J.E., S.G. Vacek and M.P. Richardson. 2004. Crop Rotation, Conservation Tillage and Phosphorus Fertility Influence on Grain Sorghum Production. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC CD Pp.00.
- Matocha, J.E. 2004. Iron Nutrition and Suppression of Cotton Root Rot on Calcareous Soil. Western Soil Science Society Meetings. Logan, UT. 2004 Agronomy Abstracts CD Pp 00.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Improvement and protection of soil quality are essential for sustaining agricultural production for future generations. Additional knowledge of the interactions of physical environments with biological and chemical transformations affecting the availability of indigenous soil and fertilizer nutrients is needed. Field and laboratory research is being conducted on major soils used in production of crops in the Coastal Bend Region of South Texas. Soil properties are being evaluated following long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments on soils in a relatively warm, sub-humid climate. Yields of corn and cotton grown in rotation are measured for an Orelia sandy clay loam and a Victoria clay subjected to various tillage systems. Conventional tillage (CT), moldboard plow (MB), chisel plow (CH), minimum (MT), no-till (NT) are being compared on an Orelia scl soil. Tillage depths were as follows: CT-15 cm, MB-30 cm, CH-30 cm, MT-3 cm, and NT-0 cm. Experiments on the
Victoria clay were limited to CT, MT, and NT systems. Tillage systems are studied as main blocks in a RCB design with crops as subplots and P rates as split plots within each crop and tillage system. Interactive effects of tillage intensity, depth and cropping systems are being evaluated on soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon sequestration, inorganic P, nutrient stratification and other nutrient availability. In the 0 to 50 mm surface layer, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), and extractable phosphorus (P) were increased 4%, 85% and 118% respectively, where NT was compared with averages of other tillage treatments. No-till decreased soil pH, and increased certain essential trace elements. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) continued to be higher in NT soils than MT and CT at 0 to 50 mm soil depth. Nitrogen fertilization appeared to have little effect on SMBC. The proportion of SOC present as SMBC was generally less than 15% and decreased with depth. In the 0 to 50 mm layer,
this proportion was 30 to 60% greater with NT and MT than with other tillage systems. Moldboard plowing produced the lowest SMBC. These results support the concept that C usually is the limiting factor for microorganisms in agricultural soils and that the N fertilization effect on some SMBC is indirect via altered C input. Response by cotton to P on the Orelia soil was generally slight and in the range of 3-9% for variably tilled soils while NT cotton produced a significant increase of 112 kg lint ha-1 (13%) due to P fertilization. Additional studies in 2003 on a Victoria clay showed NT and MT systems produced 1435 and 1349 lb lint/ac, respectively, compared to 1234 lb/ac for the CT system. At the same time, corn yields increased 10% or 412 kg ha-1 for MT compared to the CT system. In the NT system corn yields were 96% of yields in the MT system. Additional studies were conducted with grain sorghum and cotton rotations across three P fertilization rates under MT and CT systems on a
Clareville clay loam soil. Sorghum grown under MT produced 12% additional grain due to rotation with cotton. Response to P by sorghum measured 15 bu/ac or 28% increase when sorghum followed cotton with both under MT.
Impacts
Improvements in soil quality are essential in development of soil management and sustainable crop production systems which emphasize conservation of fossil fuel energy and plant nutrient use efficiencies. Tillage management and cropping practices influence soil quality. Results of this project thus far indicate reduced tillage and no till systems as viable alternatives to conventional tillage with benefits of improved soil quality, occasional crop yield increases, reduced input costs, improved soil/fertilizer nutrient use efficiency and protection of our non renewable natural resource.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. and M.P. Richardson. 2003. Long-term Tillage and Soil Compaction Influence on Hermaphroditic Worm Activity. 2003 Agronomy Abstracts. National Meetings of ASA, SSSA, CSSA, Denver, CO. Pp. 00.
- Livingston, S.L., J.E. Matocha, G.N. Odvody, and R.D. Parker. 2003. Best Management Practices for Corn on the Texas Gulf Coast. Proceedings of National Conservation Tillage Cotton, Corn and Rice Conference, Houston, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. 2003. Tillage Induced Changes in Selected Soil Physical Properties and Water Retention. Proceedings of American Association for the Advancement of Science, p. 66. 2003 Agronomy Abstracts. Annual Meeting of Western Society of Soil Science, San Francisco, CA.
- Matocha, J.E., C.F. Chilcutt and S.L. Livingston. 2002. Crop Rotation and Tillage Intensity Effects at Varying Phosphorus Fertility on Certain Insects and Grain Yield. Proceedings of Texas Plant Protection Conference, p. 18. College Station, TX.
- Matocha, J.E. and D.R. Coker. 2002. Stand Establishment and Growth of Corn as Influenced by Starter Fertilizer. 2002 Agronomy Abstracts. National Meetings of ASA, SSSA, CSSA, Indianapolis, IN.
- Matocha, J.E. 2003. Cotton/Corn Rotations and Nitrogen Fertility Effects on Corn Yields and Aflatoxin Levels at Varying Tillage Intensities. Technical article in Proceedings of National Conservation Tillage Cotton, Corn and Rice Conference, Houston, TX.
- Matocha, J.E., S.G. Vacek and M.R. Richardson. 2003. Cropping Systems, Tillage and Soil Fertility Effects on Cotton Yield. Proceedings of the 2003 Beltwide Cotton Conference, pp. 2140-2142. Nashville, TN.
- Howard, D.D., M. Kenty, J.E. Matocha, N. Buehring, C. Green, J.C. Banks, and J. Thomas. 2003. Evaluating a Systems Approach for Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization of Cotton Across the Southern States. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conference, pp. 1904. Nashville, TN.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Changes in the physical soil environment manifested by tillage intensities can affect biological and chemical transformations of indigenous soil and fertilizer phosphorus (P). Field and laboratory research is being conducted on major soils used in production of crops in the Coastal Prairie Region of south Texas. Some of these studies concentrate on existing long-term experiments with documented histories of fertilizer nutrient and leguminous nitrogen (N) additions. Long-term tillage systems in operation include no-till (NT) and minimum till (MT) with minimal disturbance of soil particles, conventional tillage (CT) or maximum disturbance, and deep tillage (30cm) with chisel plows. Tillage systems are studied as main blocks in a randomized block design, crops as subplots and P rates as split plots within each crop and tillage system. Crop yields and uptake of P in relation to soil inorganic P are being determined. Interactive effects of tillage, cropping systems,
organic carbon (C), and P fertilization will be evaluated following additional years of data collection. Although studies concentrate on P, additional measurements include soil pH, K, and other nutrients, with notations on nutrient stratification in the soil. Large differences in soil aggregation and compaction due to tillage are recorded. Harvest data for major crops of grain sorghum and corn were collected for the third year of field experimentation. Due to severe preplant and summer drought, all experiments on the Victoria clay soil produced no yield data. Crop yields in the coarser textured Orelia sandy clay loam were below average. Cotton stand establishment on the Orelia soil failed due to drought. Response to P fertilizer was recorded for both grain crops but yield differences varied widely with tillage intensity and depth. Yield increases to 22 kg P2O5/ha by corn varied from a negative 11% for deep-tilled treatments to 15% additional yield for NT and MT (3cm depth) systems.
Additional studies on a Clareville clay loam soil include a cotton:grain sorghum rotation compared with continuous sorghum across three P fertilization rates and under MT and CT tillage systems. Sorghum grown in rotation with cotton averaged across tillage and fertility regimes showed a non-significant net increase of 268 kg/ha over continuous sorghum. However, within tillage systems, the rotation benefit increased to 631 kg/ha or 11% advantage. Additions of 11 kg P2O5/ha fertilizer produced a small response with the MT system. Supplemental micronutrients, Zn and Fe, applied with the ammonium polyphosphate produced a larger yield response of 1135 and 1277 kg/ha, respectively. In other experiments, corn responded to P fertilization when soil moisture and N fertility was adequate. Grain yield increases were 23 and 22 percent, respectively, for the first two 22 P2O5 kg/ha increments on the Orelia soil. Laboratory estimates of plant-available soil P in surface 15-cm for these P treatments
increased by 33 and 35% for the 22 and 44 kg P2O5/ha rates respectively. Correlative analyses between estimates of available soil P and corn response to applied P fertilizer are continuing.
Impacts
Improvements in soil quality are essential in development of sustainable crop production systems which emphasize increased indigenous soil and fertilizer phosphorus (P) use efficiencies. Tillage management and cropping practices influence soil quality. This project investigates the effects of long-term minimum tillage, no-tillage, and other cropping systems on changes in plant available P, P use efficiencies, and crop yields. Preliminary research data suggest relationships among tillage, cropping systems and crop yields.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. 2002. "Effect of Iron Sources on Fundal Disease Infestations and Yields of Cotton." Journal of Plant and Soil.
- Matocha, J.E., C.F. Chilcutt, M.P. Richardson and S.G. Vacek. 2002. "Impact of Cotton Rotations and Tillage Intensity at Varying Phosphorus Fertility on Certain Sorghum Insects and Grain Yield." Proceedings of 25th Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture, pp. 180-183. Auburn, AL.
- Matocha, J.E. and D.W. Moseley. 2002. "Iron Availability From Biosolid and Acid Amended Calcareous Soils." Western Society of Soil Science Conference. Fort Collins, CO. June, 2002. Proceedings of Western Society of Soil Science Meetings, p. 10.
- Wiedenfeld, R. and J.E. Matocha, 2002. "Agronomic Practices for Grain Sorghum Production in Subtropical South Texas." Southern Region American Society of Agronomy Meetings. Orlando, FL. Abstract in Annual Meetings, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America.
- Matocha, J.E., C.F. Chilcutt and S.L. Livingston. 2002. "Crop Rotation and Tillage Systems Effects at Varying Phosphorus Fertility on Certain Sorghum Insects and Grain Yields. Proceedings of 2002 Texas Plant Protection Conference, College Station, TX. December, 2002.
- Matocha, J.E. and D.R. Coker. 2002. Stand Establishment and Growth of Corn as Influenced by Starter Fertilizers. Abstract in National Meetings of American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America.
- Matocha, J.E., M.P. Richardson and M. McFarland. 2002. Influence of Tillage Intensity and Crop Rotation at Various Rates of Phosphorus on Sorghum Grain Yields. Proceedings of Southern Soil Fertility Conference, Memphis, TN. October, 2002.
- Matocha, J.E., and D.L. Coker. 2003. "Starter Fertilizer Source and Rate Effect on Stand and Growth of Cotton." Journal of Plant Nutrition.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
Protection and improvement in soil quality are essential for sustaining agricultural production for future generations. Additional knowledge of the interactions of physical environments with biological and chemical transformations affecting the availability of indigenous soil and fertilizer nutrients is needed. Soil properties are being evaluated following long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments on soils in a warm, sub-humid climate where organic matter is rapidly oxidized. Corn and cotton were rotated on an Orelia sandy clay loam and a Victoria clay subjected to various tillage systems. Conventional tillage (CT), moldboard plow (MB), chisel plow (CH), minimum (MT), and no-till (NT) were compared on an Orelia scl soil. Tillage depths were as follows: CT-15 cm, MB-30 cm, CH-30 cm, MT-3 cm, and NT-0 cm. Experiments on the Victoria clay were limited to CT, MT, and NT systems. In the 0 to 50 mm surface layer, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N), and
extractable phosphorus (P) were increased 60%, 80%, and 110% respectively, where NT was compared with averages of other tillage treatments. No-till decreased soil pH, but increased certain essential trace elements. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) was sharply higher in NT soils at 0 to 50 mm soil depth than with MT and CT. Nitrogen fertilization appeared to have little effect on SMBC. The proportion of SOC present as SMBC was generally less than 10% and decreased with depth. In the 0 to 50 mm, this proportion was 20 to 60% greater with NT and MT than with other tillage systems and was not significantly affected by N fertilization at depths to 125 mm. Moldboard plowing produced the lowest SMBC. These results support the concept that C usually is the limiting factor for microorganisms in agricultural soils and that the N fertilization effect on some SMBC is indirect via altered C input. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) was highly correlated to SMBC. Mineralizable N at all
depths was higher with NT and MT than with other treatments. Nitrogen fertilization increased N mineralization, while seasonal mineralizable N was inversely related to seasonal SMBC. The effect of the long-term NT management system caused soil pH reduction and increased extractable soil P in surface layers of the calcareous-alkaline clay soil. Soil phosphorus and other nutrient stratifications are being monitored. Due to severe drought prior to physiological maturity of indicator crops in 2001, yields were abnormally low. Consequently, response by cotton to P was generally slight and in the range of 3-9% for variably tilled soils while NT cotton produced a significant increase of 112 kg lint ha-1 (13%) due to P fertilization. Additional studies in 2001 showed NT and MT systems produced 36 and 29% more cotton, respectively than the CT system. At the same time, corn yields were increased 45% or approximately 1600 kg ha-1 compared to the CT system. In the second year of the
rotation/tillage/P fertility study, grain sorghum yields were significantly increased by P when sorghum followed cotton in a CT system where plants were physiologically stressed by drought.
Impacts
Improvements in soil quality are essential in development of sustainable crop production systems which emphasize increased indigenous soil and fertilizer phosphorus (P) use efficiencies. Tillage management and cropping practices influence soil quality. This project investigates the effects of long-term minimum tillage, no-tillage, and other cropping systems on changes in plant available P, P use efficiencies, and crop yields. Preliminary research data suggest relationships among tillage, cropping systems and crop yields.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. 2001. "Effect of Conservation Tillage on Soil Phosphorus and Other Soil Properties." Proceedings of the National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference, Houston, TX.
- Matocha, J.E., M. Clay Ward, S.L. Livingston and S.G. Vacek. 2001. "Influence of Crop Rotation and Soil Fertility Under Two Tillage Regimes on Profitability of Grain Sorghum Production." Proceedings of the Biennial Grain Sorghum Research and Utilization Conference, Nashville, TN.
- Matocha, J.E. and S.G. Vacek. 2001. "Influence of Conservation Tillage Systems and Nitrogen Fertility on Yields and Aflatoxin Levels of Corn." Proceedings of Southern Soil Fertility Conference, Memphis, TN, pp. 58-59.
- Matocha, J.E. 2001. "Influence of Tillage, Soil Insecticides and Seed Treatments on Iron Chlorosis and Yield of Grain Sorghum." Abstract in Proceedings of the Australian Sorghum Conference, Brisbane, AU.
- Matocha, J.E. and F.L. Hopper. 2001. "Influence of Terbufos and Nicosulfuron on Iron Chlorosis and Growth of Corn." Journal of Plant Nutrition 24 (9), 1445-1455 (2001).
- Matocha, J.E. and S. Mostaghimi. 2001. "Bioavailability of Indigenous Iron and Selected Iron Sources on Calcareous Soils." Proceedings of International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Guelph, Canada, pp. 588.
- Matocha,J.E. and Vacek, S.G. 2001. "Changes in Soil Properties as Influenced by Long-Term No-Till." Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference, Proceedings of 2001 Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences, Anaheim, CA, p. 589.
- Matocha, J.E. 2001. "Cotton Response to Acid Soil Amendments and Iron Enrichments on Calcareous Soils." Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference, Proceedings of 2001 Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences, Anaheim, CA, p. 604.
- Matocha, J.E. 2001. "Effects of Acidifying Soil Amendments and Iron Enrichments on Cotton Grown on Calcareous Soils." Agronomy 2001 abstracts of Annual Meetings, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Biological and chemical transformations of indigenous soil and fertilizer phosphorus (P) may be affected by changes in the physical soil environment manifested by tillage intensities. Field and laboratory research is being conducted on major soils used in production of crops in the Coastal Prairie Region of south Texas. A portion of these studies concentrate on existing long-term experiments with documented histories of fertilizer nutrient and leguminous nitrogen (N) additions. Long-term tillage systems in operation include no-till (NT) and minimum till (MT) with minimal disturbance of soil particles, conventional tillage (CT) or maximum disturbance, and deep tillage (30 cm.) with chisel plows. Tillage systems are studied as main blocks in a randomized block design, crops as subplots and P rates as split plots within each crop and tillage system. Crop yields and plant uptake of P in relation to soil inorganic forms of P are being determined. Interactive effects of
tillage, crop residues, organic carbon (C), and P fertilization will be evaluated following additional years of data collection. Although analyses will concentrate on P dynamics, additional measurements include soil pH, K, and the trace elements, Fe and Zn, with notations on nutrient stratification. Soil nutrient data for NT, MT, and CT systems will be evaluated in conjunction with crop yield data and meaningful relationships will be further examined. Modification of soil sampling methodology and/or changes in soil test nutrient requirements for expected crop yield will be made where warranted. Harvest data for major crops of grain sorghum, corn and cotton were collected for the initial year of this revised experiment. Due to severe summer drought, yields from corn, grain sorghum, and cotton were below average. Although some yield response to N fertilizer was recorded for both grain crops for each tillage system with averages of 31% across tillage treatments for corn and 23% for
sorghum, no response to applied P was observed. Some P response is anticipated in the coming season if more ideal soil moisture conditions occur. Additional studies include a new project to enable extrapolation of small plot findings to large field scale evaluations with data collection for subsequent use in tillage P fertility and cropping systems enterprise analysis for grain sorghum. Conventional and MT systems are being evaluated under continuous sorghum as well as a 1:1 sorghum-cotton rotation. Both tillage systems are evaluated at three rates of P fertilization, while N is blanketed at a constant rate. In the first year (2000) of this sorghum rotation/ tillage/fertility project, production data was satisfactory especially since only 60% of long-term average rainfall was recorded at the test site during the growing season. Sorghum grown in rotation with cotton averaged across tillage and fertility regimes showed a net increase of 779 lb/ac over continuous sorghum. This 30%
increase in yield due to rotation effect appeared consistent within tillage systems and for most fertilizer rates. Additions of P fertilizer, either with or without micronutrients Zn and Fe, had little effect on grain yields.
Impacts
Tillage practices and cropping systems can significantly affect the living fraction of soil organic matter(SMBC). Measurement of these short-term changes in SMBC and SMBN which modify nutrient availability dynamics can complement standard chemical soil analysis for nutrient availability. These studies showed SOM, SOC, SMBC, and SMBN were substantially increased by reduced tillage contributing to improved nutrient availability and crop yields. With increased surface crop residues, NT and MT positively impacted air quality through increased C sequestration and reduced wind erosion of soil.
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. and S.G. Vacek. 2000. Chemical Suppression of Phymatotrichopsis Root Rot on Cotton in South Texas. Proceedings of 2000 Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences, San Antonio, TX. pp. 175.
- Matocha, J.E. 2000. Effects of Iron Sources on Fundal Infestation and Yields of Cotton. Proceedings of 10th International Symposium on Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants, Houston, Texas.
- Matocha, J.E. and X. Liu. 2000. Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization as Affected by Long-Term Tillage and Fertilization. Proceedings of ISTRO-2000 International Soil Tillage Research Organization Conference, Fort Worth, Tx.
- Matocha, J.E. 2000. Long-Term Tillage Effects on Selected Soil Properties and Water Retention. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture, Monroe, LA. p. 46.
- Vacek, S.G., J.E. Matocha, and Jim Smart. 2000. Effects of Population and Row Spacing on Lint Yields of No-till Cotton. Proceedings of 2000 Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences, San Antonio, TX. pp. 1416-1419.
- Cothren, J.T., J.E. Matocha, and L.E. Clark. 2000. "Integrated Crop Management for Sorghum." Sorghum: Origin, History, Technology, and Production. Ed. C. Wayne Smith and Richard A. Frederiksen. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000. pp. 409-441.
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
Soil quality protection is important for sustaining agricultural production for future generations. Greater knowledge of the interaction of physical environments with biological and chemical transformations affecting availability of indigenous soil and fertilizer nutrients is needed. Soil properties were evaluated following long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments on two soils in a warm, subhumid climate where organic matter is rapidly oxidized. Corn and cotton were rotated on an Orelia sandy clay loam and a Victoria clay subjected to various tillage systems. Conventional tillage(CT), moldboard plow(MB), chisel plow(CH), minimum(MT), and no-till(NT) were compared on the Orelia soil. Tillage depths were as follows: CT-15cm, MB-30cm, CH-30cm, MT-3cm, and NT-0cm. Experiments on the Victoria clay were limited to CT, MT, and NT systems. Both NT and MT increased surface crop residues by 30 to 135% compared with other tillage treatments. In the 0 to 50mm surface
layer, organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(N), and extractable phosphorus(P) were increased 64%, 78%, and 110%, respectively, where NT was compared with averages of other tillage treatments. No-till decreased clay content, cation exchange capacity(CEC), and soil pH, but increased certain essential trace elements. Soil microbial biomass carbon(SMBC) was sharply higher (24 to 160%)in NT at 0 to 50mm soil depth than with MT and CT. Nitrogen fertilization appeared to have little effect on SMBC. The proportion of SOC present as SMBC ranged from approximately 4 to 7% and decreased with depth. In the 0 to 50mm, this proportion was 23 to 63% greater with NT and MT than with other tillage systems and was not significantly affected by N fertilization at depths to 125mm. However, at 125 to 200mm, N addition did increase the proportion of SOC as SMBC by 30% at planting, but not at flowering and harvest. Moldboard plowing produced the lowest SMBC. These results support the concept that C usually is
the limiting factor for microorganisms in agricultural soils and that the N fertilization effect on some SMBC is indirect via altered C input. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen(SMBN)was highly correlated to SMBC. Mineralizable N at all depths was higher with NT and MT than with other treatments. Nitrogen fertilization increased N mineralization,while seasonal mineralizable N was inversely related to seasonal SMBC. This indicates that turnover of microbial biomass may control N availability to a large extent. In summary, reduced tillage systems that enhanced surface crop residue accumulation resulted in the greatest opportunity for increased C sequestration and increased quantity of mineralizable nutrients within soil microbial biomass. The benefits of crop rotation on yields of corn and cotton grown with MT and CT systems showed greater rotation effect on corn compared to cotton yields. Corn yields under MT doubled when corn followed cotton as compared to monoculture corn. Under CT,
corn produced 35% less grain than with MT in similar cropping systems. Corn grain from MT appeared to contain lower aflatoxin levels than with CT, which may be a response to lower soil moisture stress.
Impacts
Tillage practices and cropping systems can significantly affect the living fraction of soil organic matter(SMBC). Measurement of these short-term changes in SMBC and SMBN which modify nutrient availability dynamics can complement standard chemical soil analysis for nutrient availability. These studies showed SOM, SOC, SMBC, and SMBN were substantially increased by reduced tillage contributing to improved nutrient availability and crop yields. With increased surface crop residues, NT and MT positively impacted air quality through increased C sequestration and reduced wind erosion of soil.
Publications
- Vacek, S.G. and J.E. Matocha. 1999. Soil Organic Properties as Affected by Long-Term Tillage Practices. Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Orlando, FL., p. 1292-1293.
- Matocha, J.E. 1999. Effects of Acidification and Iron Enrichment of Calcareous Soils on Plant Nutrition. Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements (Wenzel, Adriano, Alloway, Dover, Keller, Lepp, Mench, Nailu, and Pierzynski, editors). Vol. I, p. 30.
- Matocha, J.E., T.L. Provin, and S.G. Vacek. 1999. Soil Chemical Properties as Influenced by Tillage Intensities. Agronomy Abstracts, p. 260. National Meetings of Soil Science Society of America. Salt Lake City, UT.
- Matocha, J.E., J.R. Salinas-Garcia, R.W. Cripps, and S.G.Vacek. 1999. Impacts of Tillage Intensity on Selected Soil Physical Properties. Agronomy Abstracts, p. 294. National Meetings of Soil Science Society of America. Salt Lake City, UT.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
Tillage and cropping systems have long been recognized as factors influencing soil quality. Improved soil quality is one of the prerequisites in development of sustainable crop production systems which stress improvement in indigenous soil and fertilizer N use efficiencies. This long-term study evaluates three conservation tillage systems with varying crop residue management practices against conventional and other tillage systems for cotton and corn crops. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content in the surface increased dramatically with no-tillage (NT) for both crops and measured significantly higher compared to minimum till (MT) and conventional tillage (CT). Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) was highest for MT. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) in NT and MT soils exceeded levels in CT and deep tilled soils. Potentially mineralizable N and inorganic N was highest at planting in NT. Nitrogen fertilization increased mineralizable C, N and inorganic N in all tillage
systems. Surface crop residues were considerably higher for NT and MT systems and affected stored soil water. Plant-available soil moisture was greatest for NT at profile depths exceeding 15 cm at peak water absorption periods. The higher soil water translated to increased crop yields. Yields from cotton and corn in the split-plot drought plagued studies in 1998 showed NT produced 30 and 12% higher yields, respectively, compared to the CT system. Highest rates of N (67 and 134 kg ha-1 for dryland cotton and corn, respectively) reduced crop yields in most tillage systems with exception of NT. SMBN values appeared to correlate linearly and positively with crop yields.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Vacek, S.G. and J. E. Matocha. 1998. Soil Fertility Management Under Two Conservation Tillage Systems. Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Diego, CA. p. 667
- Matocha, J. E. and S. G. Vacek. 1998. Influence of Crop Rotations, Tillage and Nitrogen Fertility on Cotton Yields. Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, San Diego, CA. p. 626
- Matocha, J.E., X. Liu and S.G. Vacek. 1998. Tillage Intensity and Fertilization Effects on Carbon, Nitrogen Mineralization and Soil Microbial Biomass. Tri Societies Annual Meetings, Baltimore, MD. 1998 Agronomy Abstracts p. 207.
- Matocha, J.E. 1998. Effects of Soil Insecticides and Sulfonyl Urea Herbicides on Iron Nutrition and Growth of Corn. Western Society of Soil Sciences. Logan, UT. 1998 Agronomy Abstracts, p. 4.
- Matocha, J.E. and J.W. Keeling. 1998. Conservation Tillage systems and Research in Texas. Cotton Soil Management and Plant Nutrition Conference. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences, San Diego, CA. pp. 664-665.
- Matocha, J.E. 1998. Conservation Tillage Systems for Cotton Production in South Texas. Proceedings of World Cotton Conferences. Athens, Greece
- Potter, K. N., H. A. Torbert, O.R. Jones, J.E. Matocha and P.W. Unger. 1998. Disribution and Amount of Soil Organic Carbon in Long-term Management Systems in Texas. Soil and Tillage Research Journal 47 (1998) 309-321.
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Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97
Outputs
Technical knowledge of the interaction of the physical environment with biological and chemical transformations affecting indigenous soil and fertilizer N is essential to improving N use efficiency by crops. Long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments are being conducted on clay loam and clay soils with objectives to evaluate effects on soil organic matter dynamics with emphasis on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and SMBN. With corn, SMBC was from 24 to 160% greater in no-till (NT) at 0-50 mm soil depth than minimum (MT) or conventional tillage (CT). Differences decreased sharply with soil depth. SMBN was significantly related to SMBC (r=0.96). Nitrogen fertilization increased mineralizable N regardless of tillage treatments. Corn yields in 1997 with MT were 14, 17 and 2% greater than CT, deep moldboard and NT, respectively. Cropping systems and tillage has dramatic influence on corn response to N fertilization. With MT, yields increased 104% when corn
followed cotton compared to continuous corn. Under CT, cropping system effect on yields was less than half of that measured with CT.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Matocha, J.E. and S. Vacek, 1997. Efficacy of Fungicidal and Nutritional Treatments on Cotton Root Rot Suppression. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, pp. 135-137, New Orleans, LA.
- Matocha, J.E., 1997. Influence of Iron on Incidence of Phymatotrichum Root Rot and Growth of Cotton. Proceedings of the International Biometals Symposium. Calgary, Canada. August, 1997.
- Matocha, J.E., S.G. Vacek and F.L. Hopper, 1997. Tillage and Soil Insecticide Effects on Dryland Corn Yields. Proceedings of Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture. University of Florida, Tallahassee.
- Potter, K.N, H.A. Torbert, O.R. Jones, J.E.. Matocha, J.E. Morrison and P.W. Unger, 1997. Distribution and Amount of Soil Organic Carbon in Long-Term Management Systems in Texas. Soil Tillage Res. (In Press).
- Salinas-Garcia, J.R., F.M. Hons, J.E. Matocha and D.A. Zuberer, 1997. Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics as Affected by Long-term Tillage and Fertilization. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 25:182-188.
- Salinas-Garcia, J.R., J.E. Matocha and F.M. Hons, 1997. Long-term Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Soil Properties of an Alfisol Under Dryland Corn/Cotton Production. Soil Tillage Res. 42:79-93.
- Salinas-Garcia, J.R., F.M. Hons, J.E. Matocha, 1997. Long-term Effects of Tillage and Fertilization on Soil Organic Matter Dynamics. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61:152-159.
- Vacek, S. and J.E. Matocha, 1997. Cotton Response to Reduced Tillage Management and Nitrogen Fertilization. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, pp. 633-636, New Orleans, LA.
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Progress 01/01/96 to 12/30/96
Outputs
Long-term tillage and cropping systems experiments conducted on clay soil to study organic and inorganic N dynamics in development of crop production systems emphasize improvement in N use efficiency. Tillage systems include minimal mechanical disturbance of soil particles, no-till (NT) and minimum till (MT), and conventional tillage (CT) for major crops of corn and cotton. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), nitrogen (SMBN) and mineralizable soil organic C and N are being determined. Data for the cotton portion of the experiment indicate soils subjected to conservation tillage (NT, MT) exhibited greater microbial biomass in the 0-200 mm layer than soil in the CT treatment. The NT resulted in higher mineralized C than MT or CT because of the retention of active C in the undisturbed soil, the difference becoming less marked as growing season progressed. Mineralized C increased with fertilizer N rates. Potentially mineralizable N in the surface 50 mm of NT soil
averaged 25 and 52 % greater than those of MT and CT soils, respectively. As was the case with microbial biomass, mineralizable N decreased with soil depth. Fertilizer N increased mineralizable N in all tillage treatments. With N fertilization, mineralizable N was significantly higher at flowering than at planting. Yields increased progressively with N fertilizer rate with the greatest increase from the initial 22 kg N/ha and lesser N responses from 44 and 67 kg N/ha. Yields with MT showed a 10 % increase over CT. ---.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- LIU X., MATOCHA J.E. AND HOPPER F.L. 1996. Soil Micro-Biomass and Potential N Mineralization as Influenced by Tillage Practices and N Fertilization. Proc. Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences p. 1379-1383, Nashville, TN. MATOCHA J.
- E., COKER D., HOPPER F.L. AND LIU X. 1996. Starter Fertilizer Source and Rate Effects on Stand and Growth of Cotton. Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Production Conferences. p. 1421-1425, Nashville, TN.
- SALINAS-GARCIA J.R., HONS F. M., MATOCHA J.E. AND ZUBERER D.A. 1996. Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen as Affected by Long-Term Tillage and Fertilization. Agronomy Abstracts, p. 240. ASA Annual Meetings. SALINAS-GARCIA J.
- R., HONS F.M. AND MATOCHA J.E. 1997. Long-Term Effects of Tillage and Fertilization on soil Organic Matter Dynamics. Soil Sci. Soc. of Am.J. 61:251-256. SALINAS-GARCIA J.
- R., MATOCHA J.E. AND HONS F.M. 1997. Long-Term tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Soil Properties. Soil and Tillage Research Journal (In Press).
- SALINAS-GARCIA J.R., HONS F. M., MATOCHA J.E AND ZUBERER D.A. 1997. Seasonal Dynamics of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen as Affected by Long-Term Tillage and Fertilization. Biology and Fertility of soil (In Press). MOSELEY D.W. 1996. Effect of Soil Amendment on Iron Nutrition of Grain Sorghum. M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
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Progress 01/01/95 to 12/30/95
Outputs
The development of sustainable crop production systems which stress N use efficiency and utilize residual soil N is emphasized. Experiments are designed to evaluate inorganic and organic N dynamics on soils subjected to long-term alternative tillage and various cropping systems with corn and cotton. Tillage systems include minimal mechanical disturbance of soil particles (no-till (NT)) and minimum till (MT)), conventional tillage (CN) and deep tillage (300 mm) comparing chisel and moldboard systems (MB). Microbial biomass C and N, mineralizable soil organic C and N are being determined. Data for the corn portion of the experiment indicate soil treated with conservation tillage (NT or MT) exhibited greater microbial biomass in the 0-200 mm layer than soil subjected to CN or MB tillage. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) at the 0-50 mm depth was from 24 to 160% greater in NT than other tillage treatments but decreased with depth to levels similar to those in tilled
treatments. Soil microbial biomass N (SMBN) was significantly related to SMBC (r=0.95). The C/N ratio of SMB decreased during the growing season, averaging 11 at planting and 9 at flowering and harvest. Nitrogen mineralization rates decreased with increasing soil depth. In separate studies the contribution of a legume (soybean) to the N requirements of cotton grown in alternate years reflected 75% and 92% lint yield increases for CN and MT systems, respectively, over that measured for the sorghum cotton rotation.
Impacts
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Publications
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Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94
Outputs
Laboratory and field experiments are being conducted to improve understanding ofinorganic N utilization on soils subjected to long-term alternative tillage and various cropping systems in the Coastal Prairie Region of South Texas. The development of sustainable crop production systems which stress N use efficiency and utilize residual soil N and N availability indices is emphasized. Tillage systems studied include treatments with minimal mechanical disturbance of soil particles no-till (NT) and minimum till (MT), conventional tillage (CN) and deep tillage (30 cm) comparing chisel and moldboard systems (NB). Tillage systems are studied as main plots in a RCB design while two major crops, cotton and corn are compared as split plots. Microbial biomass N and C, mineralizable soil organic N and inorganic N are being determined. In separate studies, the contribution of a legume (soybean) grown in rotation with cotton is being evaluated at multiple rates of N fertilizer and
compared to a standard sorghum-cotton rotation. Preliminary data on the cotton portion of the experiment indicate soil subjected to conservation tillage (both NT and MT) accumulated greater microbial biomass in the 0-20 cm layer than CN soil or MB soil. NT soils showed approximately 2 times the potentially mineralizable N near the soil surface as CN and MB soils. Nitrogen mineralization rates and microbial biomass decreased with increasing soil depth.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- MATOCHA, J.E., COKER, D.L, and HOPPER, F.L. 1994. Potassium Fertilization Effects on Cotton Yields and Fiber Properties. Proceedings 1994 Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conference, San Diego, CA.
- MATOCHA, J.E., COKER, D.L. and HOPPER, F.L. 1994. Long Term Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Lint Yields and Certain Soil Properties in the Texas Coastal Bend. Proceedings 1994 Beltwide Cotton Production Research Conference, San Diego, CA.
- MATOCHA, J.E., LIU, X., COKER, D.L. and STEARMAN, K. 1994. Changes in Soil Microbial and Chemical Properties Under Long-Term Reduced Tillage. American Society of Agronomy, Seattle, WA, Agronomy Abstracts, p. 284.
- BARBER, K.L. and MATOCHA, J.E. 1994. Nitrogen Uptake and Root Growth of Grain Sorghum as Affected by Tillage Practice. American Society of Agronomy, Seattle, WA, Agronomy Abstracts, p. 309.
- MATOCHA, J.E., COKER, D.L. and HOPPER, F.L. 1994. Influence of Nitrogen Fertilization on Cotton Response to Soybean and Sorghum Rotations. 15th World Congress of Soil Science Transaction. Acapulco, Mexico.
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