Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Quality: A Comparison of Selected Soil Properties Under Conventional and No Tillage Farming.

The protection and improvement of soil quality and soil fertility has become an increasingly important issue with respect to sustainable agriculture. This can be achieved or supported by adapted management systems, such as conservation or no tillage. By minimising soil cultivation, higher yields can be obtained because of optimised utilisation of soil water and nutrients by crops.
During the last two decades there has been a growing interest on soil conservation tillage practices due to the positive effect on soil fertility, decrease of soil erosion as well as cost savings because of lower energy and labour input.
The aim of this study was to compare conventional tillage (using mouldboard ploughing) and no-till systems focussing on essential soil physical and chemical properties reflecting soil quality. The soil chemical quality was characterised by carbon and nitrogen contents, C:N ratio and cation exchange capacity. Soil aggregate stability, bulk density, pore space distribution, water storage and soil hydraulic properties were used as indicators for the soil physical quality Three case studies, conducted under different soil and climate conditions were compared, i.e. on a sandy silt in Pixendorf, Lower Austria, on a sandy loam in Andau, Burgenland, and on a silty loam in Groß-Enzersdorf, Lower Austria. On each study site plots with conventional tillage and no-till systems were set up at least ten years ago. Thus, an evaluation of long-term effects for both tillage systems was possible. Obtained results are discussed with respect to systematic protection of soil quality and optimisation of plant nutrition for different site-specific conditions.