The effect of traffic and tillage management systems on soil organic carbon dynamics and crop performance

Prada Barrio, A. (2025) The effect of traffic and tillage management systems on soil organic carbon dynamics and crop performance. Doctoral thesis, Harper Adams University.

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Abstract

There is an increased interest in implementing soil compaction mitigation strategies in sustainable agricultural practices to promote soil health, crop productivity and resilience. However, knowledge gaps still exist on the long-term effects of alternative traffic systems, and their interaction with different tillage systems, on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and crop yield. This thesis aimed to determine the effects of three traffic systems—Standard Tyre Pressure (STP), Low ground Tyre Pressure (LTP), and Controlled Traffic Farming with 30% trafficked area (CTF)—interacting with three tillage systems (Deep 25 cm, Shallow 10 cm and Zero tillage) on SOM dynamics and crop performance, in a long-term 3×3 factorial field experiment with four replicates on sandy loam soil. After 12 years, the non-trafficked crop area of CTF with Zero tillage had significantly higher SOM concentration (0-30 cm), storing 5 Mg/ha more SOC stocks on equivalent soil mass than other treatments. This combination stored ~26% more particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C) and ~6% more mineral-associated organic matter carbon (MAOM-C). After introducing a C4 millet crop, the POM δ13C was 4.5% higher and MAOM δ13C was 0.4% higher than under the previous C3 crop, indicating that carbon storage was driven by the POM fraction. Crop yield was significantly higher only for Spring oats, which yielded ~ 14% higher than STP Deep and ~ 10% higher than STP Shallow. CTF and LTP systems produced significantly higher yields than STP systems (~ 9% more for Winter wheat and ~ 7% more for Spring oats). Tillage effects on yield were not significant, indicating that long-term Zero tillage maintained equivalent yields. However, calculating for a more realistic CTF with 15% trafficked area provided ~4% additional grain yield increase.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Divisions:	Agriculture and Environment (from 1.08.20)
Depositing User:	Mrs Susan Howe
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2025 16:07
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2025 16:07
URI:	https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18257

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