Long-term tillage and drainage influences on soil organic carbon dynamics, aggregate stability and corn yield

AbstractLabile pools of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) are affecting the carbon (C) and N fluxes in the terrestrial soils, whereas long-term C and N storage is determined by the long-lived recalcitrant fractions. Tillage and subsurface drainage influences these pools; however, the effect of these systems on poorly drained soils may be different. Therefore, the present study was conducted on a field experiment, established at the Waterman Farm of the Ohio State University in 1994. Specific objectives of the study are to assess the influence of no-tillage (NT), chisel tillage (CT) with drainage (TD) and non-drainage (ND) management under a continuous corn (Zea mays L.) system on SOC, C fractions (heavy and light), and water stable aggregates (WSA). Data from this study showed that the SOC stock for the NT was 25, 37 and 32% higher for the 0–10, 10–20 and 40–60 cm depths, respectively, as compared to that under CT system. Tillage significantly influenced the light fraction (LF) and heavy fraction...