Fall Tillage Method: Effect on Short‐Term Carbon Dioxide Flux from Soil

Abstract

Abstract The increasing concern for rising CO 2 concentrations from agricultural activities has prompted the need to better understand the flux of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. This work determines the effect of four fall tillage methods on short‐term CO 2 flux from a Hamerly clay loam (fine‐loamy, frigid Aeric Calciaquoll) in the northern Corn Belt. Moldboard plow only, moldboard plow plus disk harrow twice, disk harrow once, and chisel plow once using standard tillage equipment following a wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) crop were compared with no‐tillage. The CO 2 flux was measured with a large portable system commonly used to measure canopy gas exchange of field crops. Measurements of CO 2 flux were initiated within 5 min after tillage completion for each tillage treatment and continued intermittently for 19 d. Moldboard plow had the roughest soil surface and the highest initial CO 2 flux (29 g m −2 h −1 ) and maintained the highest flux throughout the study. Moldboard plow plus disking twice and chisel plow had similar initial rates (7 and 6 g m −2 h −1 , respectively) that were greater than disk harrow and no‐tillage. The high initial CO 2 fluxes were more related to depth of soil disturbance that resulted in a rougher surface and larger voids than to residue incorporation. The differences in CO 2 flux between tillage treatments were small but consistent 19 d after initial tillage and 64 mm rain. Lower CO 2 flux rates caused by tillage were associated with low soil disturbance and/or small voids. Tillage methods affected the initial CO 2 flux differently and suggest improved soil management can minimize agriculture's impact on global CO 2 increase.