Videos: Soil pit showing long-term conventional vs. no-tillage

Francisco Arriaga, University of Wisconsin Extension Soil Scientist

1. Long-Term Conventional and No-tillage Systems Compared

Soil pit discussion of two tillage systems (conventional vs. no-tillage) that have been managed for over 25 years in a corn-soybean rotation. Differences in soil profile, root growth, and general soil properties are discussed.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YNr6lwFbsw[/youtube]

2. Soil Organic Matter Accumulation and Oxidation

Demonstration and discussion of soil organic matter accumulation of a silt loam soil managed with two long-term (>25 years) tillage systems. The tillage systems consist of fall chiseling with spring soil finisher (conventional) and no-tillage. These two tillage systems are also compared to an intensive tillage management, which consists of 5 or more rototilling operations each year.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsg3x08G0b8[/youtube]

3. Soil Aggregation and Water Infiltration

Soil slake test and infiltration demonstration of a silt loam soil managed with conventional (fall chisel and spring finisher) versus no-tillage and an intensive tillage system (rototilling 5+ times a year). The soil slake test is used to show the stability of soil aggregates, which are very important for soil water relations.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1M7EFqqsMM[/youtube]