Tillage techniques impact on soil conservation and on maize yield irri­gated by center pivot in a Fluvisol

Abstract

In a maize growing area, with a medium textured Fluvisol, a slope <0.2 %, irrigated by center-pivot, and subjected to different soil tillage techniques (conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and tillage reservoirs) soil water content, runoff, soil loss, and yield production values were compared, from 2002 to 2004. The plots with tillage reser­voirs presented significantly (P<0.001) higher soil water content, minimal runoff and soil loss, and a yield production 4 Mg/ha higher (P<0.05) than in the other plots. Runoff medium values in the plots with conventional and reduced tillage were 46 and 57 % of the water application, re­spectively. Soil loss was very similar in these two tillage practices, presenting me­dium values per irrigation, during the 3 years, of 100 kg/ha. CRESP methodology provided reasonable predictions of potential runoff considering the water application conditions and soil type.