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Browse on keywords: soil quality tilth
Search results on 05/21/13
8549. Karlen, D.L., D.C. Erbach, T.C. Kaspar, T.S. Colvin, E.C. Berry, and D.R. Timmons. 1990. Soil tilth: a review of past perceptions and future needs.. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 54:153-161.
This review article explores the complex concept termed soil tilth. The term has been long used to denote the quality of a soil for cropping, particularly its physical condition. Structure and organic matter are dramatically affected by crop rotation and tillage. Prairie soils with granular structure and forest soils with crumb structure are considered to have good tilth, a combination of structure, aggregation, organic matter, and porosity. Studies in the 1950's concluded that maintenance of organic matter and a supply of residues for active decomposition were desirable and economical practices. Canadian researchers report that liming improved soil tilth. Studies of no-till have attributed yield increases to improved soil physical conditions which cannot be mimicked by fertilizer N. Many of the soil tilth questions remain unanswered. How is it quantitatively defined? Plant growth can be an indicator of soil tilthfor many studies since it integrates various soil factors.