2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Understanding soil properties and their changes is an important key of sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to observe the difference of soil properties regarding to common tillage systems in Kentucky. Undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected from Butler County, western KY at the depth of 0-7.5 cm and 7.5-15 cm from areas which have been tilled through traditional methods (plowed, disked, and rotary tilled). In addition, the same soil samples were taken from a no till hay field, woodland and pasture land for comparison. Soil compaction level as indicated by penetration resistances was determined in situ. The samples were analyzed for soil water retention, soil organic matter, the level of acidity, bulk density, and porosity. Soil carbon content was higher in traditional tillage systems at 6.7% than in no-till soils, which were at 3.4%. The data shows that soil porosity is higher in conventional tillage soils at 63% than other non-intensively tilled soils which were at 50%. Soil water content at field capacity under conventional tillage management systems was at 34%, while soils under other management systems were 57% average. Bulk density is lower in soils under traditional tillage systems at 0.98 g/cm³ than soils under other practices which fell at 1.35g/cm³. Undisturbed soils had consistently higher water holding capacities at 77% than conventional tillage soils which fell at 64% respectively. Soil pH in woodland and agricultural fields was 6.9 and 7.3, respectively. No acidity was found in all fields. Soil compaction was shown more in no-till soils than conventional tillage systems. The results of this study can be used to map the status of soil quality in Kentucky which eventually helps farmers to manage the soils for sustainability.

Keywords: Acidity, bulk density, compaction, Kentucky, organic matter, tillage, water retention