Advances in Agronomy, Volume 51

Advisory Board Martin Alexander

Eugene J. Kamprath

Cornell University

North Carolina State University

Kenneth J. Frey

Larry P. Wilding

Iowa State University

Texas A&M University

Prepared in cooperation with the

American Society of Agronomy Monographs Committee S. H. Anderson P. S. Baenziger W. T. Frankenberger,Jr.

M. A. Tabatabai, Chairman D. M. Kral S. E. Lingle R. J. Luxmoore

G. A. Peterson S. R. Yates

S I N

VOLUME 51 Edited by

Donald L. Sparks Department of Plant and Soil Sciences University of Delaware Newark, Delaware

ACADEMIC PRESS, INC. A Division of Harcourt Brace & Company San Diego New York Boston London Sydney Tokyo Toronto

This book is printed on acid-free paper. @

Copyright 0 1993 by ACADEMIC PRESS,INC. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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Contents CONTRIBUTORS ........................................................ PREFACE ..............................................................

vii ix

GYPSUM AND ACIDSOILS: cz\HE WORLD SCENE Malcolm E. Sumner 1. 11. 111. N. V.

Introduction .................................................... Composition and Properties of Gypsum Materials ................ Gypsum as an Ameliorant for Acid Subsoils ....................... Gypsum as an Ameliorant for Soil Physical Properties ............. Conclusions ..................................................... References ......................................................

CONSERVATION TILLAGE: AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH T O SOIL MANAGEMENT R. L. Blevins and W. W. Frye I. Introduction .................................................... 11. Conservation Tillage and the Environment ....................... 111. Soil Physical Properties .......................................... N. Soil Chemical Properties ........................................ V. Surface Mulch Management ..................................... VI. Nutrient Management ........................................... VII. Pest Management ............................................... VIII. Conclusions ..................................................... References ......................................................

1 2 3 17 26 27

34 38

45 52 57 65 69 72 73

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE:

THEIR

ROLEIN CREATING PLANTGENETIC VARIABILITY Peter A. Peterson

I. Introduction: The Heterogeneity Question ....................... 11. Maize Breeding Accomplishments: What the Plant Breeder Has Wrought ................................................... 111. Transposable Elements .......................................... References ......................................................

79 80 83 1 18

CONTENTS

vi

CONCEPTS AND DIRECTIONS INARTHROPODPESTMANAGEMENT Joe Funderburk. Leon Higley. and G. David Buntin I . Introduction

....................................................

I1. Concepts of Integrated Pest Management ........................

111. Components of Integrated Pest Management ..................... Iv. Ecological and Environmental Considerations .................... V. Status and Future Directions of Integrated Pest Management ...... VI. Conclusions ..................................................... References ......................................................

126 127 130 154 158 164 166

ACCUMULATION OF CADMIUM IN CROP PLANTS AND ITS CONSEQUENCES TO HUMAN HEALTH George J . Wagner

I . Introduction .................................................... I1. Occurrence of Cadmium in the Agricultural Environment ......... 111. Accumulation of Cadmium: Whole-Plant Studies ................. Iv. Accumulation of Cadmium: Cellular and Subcellular Aspects ...... V. Contribution of Agricultural Products to Human Intake of Cadmium .................................................... VI. Health Consequences of Cadmium Intake in Humans ............. VII . Attempts to Manipulate Plants to Reduce the Cadmium Content of Crops: Promise and Problems .................................... VIII . Summary ....................................................... References ......................................................

201 204 205

INDEX.................................................................

213

173 174 179 184

193 196

Contributors Numbers in parentheses indicate the pages on which the authors’ contributions begin.

R. L. BLEVINS (33), Department ofAgronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546 G. DAVID BUNTIN (1 2 5), Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Gnfin, Georgia 30223 W. W. FRYE (33), Division of Regulatory Services, University oflyentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546 JOE FUNDERBURK (1 2 5), North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florih, Quincy, Florida 32351 LEON HIGLEY (1 2 9 , Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583 PETER A. PETERSON (79), Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa SO01 1 MALCOLM E. SUMNER (l), Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 GEORGE J. WAGNER (1 73), Plant Physiology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Program, Department of Agronomy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546

vii

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Preface Volume 51 brings together some leading crop and soil scientists who have reviewed a number of important topics that are of current interest to agronomists around the world. The first chapter provides a comprehensive review of gypsum and acid soils. Topics in this chapter include the composition and properties of gypsum materials, and gypsum as an ameliorant for acid subsoils and for soil physical properties. The second chapter deals with conservation tillage with an emphasis on ecological approaches to soil management. This chapter discusses the effects of conservation tillage on the environment, soil physical and chemical properties, and surface mulch, nutrient, and pest management. The third chapter discusses transposable elements in maize and their role in creating plant genetic variability. An historical perspective on transposable elements is provided as well as comprehensive discussions on components of transposable elements, transposition, effects on gene expression, and presence in the genome. The fourth chapter provides a complete and contemporary review of integrated pest management. Topics that are discussed include concepts and components of integrated pest management, ecological and environmental considerations, and future directions in this very important area. The fifth chapter addresses various aspects of cadmium, a heavy metal of great environmental concern. The accumulation of cadmium in plants and its consequences to human health are comprehensively reviewed. All of these cutting edge reviews should be of immense interest to the readership. Many thanks to the authors for their fine contributions.

DONALD L. SPARKS

ix

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GYPSUM AND ACIDSOILS: T H E WORLD SCENE Malcolm E. Sumner Department of Crop and Soil Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602

I. Introduction 11. Composition and Properties of Gypsum Materials 111. Gypsum as an Ameliorant for Acid Subsoils

A. Crop Responses to Gypsum B. Prediction of Crop Responses to Gypsum Applications C. Soil Solution Studies D. Leaching Studies with Gypsum E. Mechanisms Involved in Subsoil Acidity Amelioration IV.Gypsum as an Ameliorant for Soil Physical Properties A. Surface Crusting B. Hardsetting Soils C. Subsurface Hard Layers D. Hydraulic Conductivity V. Conclusions References

I. INTRODUCTION Gypsum is a widely occurring mineral that has been used for many years as a soil conditioner and ameliorant for sodic and heavy clay soils and as a nutrient source of Ca and S for plant growth (Shainberg et al., 1989). However, recent research has shown that the utility of gypsum can be extended to acid, infertile soils as an ameliorant for subsoil acidity, surface crusting, and subsurface hard layers and as a source of Ca for developing peanut pods. (In the context of this review, an acid soil is defined as one having a pH value below 7.0.) All of these applications have resulted in substantial improvements in crop rooting patterns and water infiltration into soils, resulting in improved yields and decreased runoff and erosion. Basically two types of gypsum, namely, mined and industrial by-product materials, are currently being used for amelioration on the acid soils of the world. 1 Adiunrrs in A p m n y . Volumt $1

Copyright 9 1993 by Academic Press. Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved

2

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

The mined variant usually occurs as the dihydrate, CaS0,.2H20, although the hemihydrate (Plaster of Paris), CaSO,.JH,O, and anhydrite, CaSO, , are also found naturally (Doner and Lynn, 1989). Industrial by-product materials are derived from the manufacture of phosphoric acid (phosphogypsum, PG) or the capture of SO, from the flue gases in fossil fuel powered generators (flue gas desulfurization gypsum, FGDG) or the neutralization of sulfuric acid in many chemical processing industries. In terms of tonnages produced, PG is currently by far the most important on a worldwide basis, but with increasing pressure to improve air quality, the quantities of FGDG produced are likely to increase dramatically in the future, particularly in densely populated, industrial areas. In addition, because of the distribution of power plants throughout a particular country, FGDG is likely to have a price advantage over PG because of lower transportation costs. In the United States, the movement of PG from sites of production was temporarily banned as a result of the potential hazard from radon emissions from the material. However, this ban has now been reinstated permanently (Anonymous, 1992) despite data indicating that it is environmentally safe for use on soils (Alcardo and Recheigl, 1993).

II. COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF GYPSUM MATERIALS Because the appropriateness of a particular gypsum to a given application depends on its composition and rate of dissolution, it is important to make comparisons of various sources of gypsum. In terms of total Ca content, both mined and industrial sources are similar but vary in their contents of other elements (Table I) and in particle size (Table 11) and kinetics of dissolution (Fig. 1). Phosphogypsum contains substantial quantities of P, which can be beneficial if large amounts of gypsum are applied. The levels of the other elements in the materials are so low that they are of little importance. Phosphogypsum from Florida contains 226Raand gives off radon (,,,Rn) gas, which poses a potential health hazard (Mays and Mortvedt, 1986). In one study (Miller and Sumner, 1991), phosphogypsum applied at rates of up to 10 t ha-' was found to be within tolerable limits environmentally. The Cd content was also found to be of no concern (Mays and Mortvedt, 1986). Because the speed with which gypsum dissolves is of some importance as far as its use is concerned, it is necessary to have data on particle size analysis (Table 11) and the kinetics of dissolution (Fig. 1). Bolan et al. (1992b) found that the dissolution of gypsum materials in water was a transport-limited phenomenon and followed second-order kinetics, whereas dissolution in the presence of soil was much faster and followed first-order kinetics as illustrated in Fig. 1 .

3

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS Table I

Total Chemical Composition of a Selection of Mined and By-Product Gypsum Materials" Element Phosphogypsum Florida

Flue gas Flue gas desulfuridesulfurization gypsum zation gypsum Florida

Illinois

Major components Ca

B Mg Si A1

0.109

P Fe

0.21 I 0.082

Minor components As

Cd cu Pb Se

K

Na Sr

Nova Scotia

%

25.08 18.90 0.076 0.002 0. I16

S

Mined gypsum

24.41 18.61 0.088 0.015 0.052 0.059 0.007 0.039

24.29 18.22 0.158 0.100 0.078 0.057

O.OO0

0.053

27.20 16.00 0.042 0.466 0.054 0.328 0.003 0.220

mg kg-' 6.91 0.667 20.35

O.OO0 O.OO0

206.70 203.47 523.89

5.73 O.OO0 1.73 O.OO0 O.OO0 O.OO0 22.61 123.82

4.98 1.050 I .73

O.OO0 O.OO0

103.34 33.92 200.19

18.92

O.OO0 6.93

O.OO0 O.OO0 658.90 63.59 558.46

"C. Ishak, private communication (1991).

These results indicate that the rate of dissolution of gypsum is a function of particle size and surface area. Generally mined gypsum materials have been found to dissolve the slowest (Frenkel and Fey, 1989; Keren and Shainberg, 1981; Shainberg et al., 1989). The importance of such differences will become apparent in the discussion of the benefits of gypsum in reducing surface crusting.

111. GYPSUM As AN AMELIORANT FOR ACID SUBSOILS Acid topsoils can be readily ameliorated by the incorporation of appropriate quantities of limestone. However, in the case of acid subsoils, lime is of little

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

4

Table I1

Particle Size Analysis of a Variety of Gypsum Materials"

Particle size

Phosphogypsum

Flue gas desulfurization gypsum

Flue gas desulfurization gypsum

Mined gypsum

Florida

Florida

Illinois

Great Britain

0.05 12.30 63.41 18.06 6.12

11.99 17.35 17.33

(mm)

%

>0.25 0.25-0. I

0.05 6.70 20.20 68.35 4.10

0.1-0.05

0.05-0.02

2000

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

Figure 2. Cumulative maize yield response over the period 1982-1991 to 10 t gypsum ha-’ incorporated into a South African Oxisol topsoil in 1982. (From M. P. W. Farina, private communication, 1991.)

in some cases, particularly in Brazil, the responses have been due to S and Ca nutrition (da Silva and van Raij, 1992; Guimarges, 1992; Malavolta, 1992; Vitti er al., 1992). As an illustration of the typical types of responses that have been obtained, data kindly supplied by M. P. W.Farina (private communication, 1991) will be used (Figs. 2 and 3). In Fig. 2, the cumulative maize yield response to 10 t gypsum ha-’ incorpo-

Al

Ca (crnol(+)/kg)

0 0.0

1

2

3

4

I

I

I

J

0.0

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.4

0.6

0.6

0.8

0.8

1 .o

1 .o

0

+ 1

H (crnol(+)/kg) 2

3

4

5

h

5 f 0

Figure 3. Comparisons of exchangeable Ca and A1 t H with depth inT990 after application of 10 t gypsum ha-l to the topsoil of a South African Oxisol in 1982. (From M. P. W. Farina, private

communication, 1991.)

7

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

11 la

0-

0

0

y

=

4.04

-

0., 1 1 5 ~

r1 = 0.54

0

20

40

60

A l Saturation

80 100

(X)

0

20

40

60

Ca Saturation

80

100

(X)

Figure 4. Relationship between increase in root length of wheat and (A) A1 saturation and (B) Ca saturation of a large number of soils from the Cerrado region of Brazil. (From Sousa er a / . . 1992a.)

rated in 1982 on a Natal Oxisol over the untreated control is substantial (1 1 t grain ha-I) and highly economic. In contrast, the incorporation of lime with a Wye Double Digger resulted only in a cumulative yield response of about 7 t maize grain ha- I . The corresponding changes in exchangeable Ca and A1 H down the soil profile are illustrated in Fig. 3. Gypsum treatment has increased exchangeable Ca and decreased AI+H to a depth of at least 90 cm, which allows for greater proliferation of roots in the subsoil (Farina and Channon, 1988) and the extraction of water by the crop, which in the absence of gypsum would have been beyond its reach. The relationships between wheat root growth and A1 and Ca saturations between 20 and 120 cm in the profiles of Oxisols from the Cerrado region of Brazil are illustrated in Fig. 4 (Sousa et al., 1992a). Similar results have been reported by other workers for a wide variety of crops (Chaves et al., 1988, 1991; Farina and Channon, 1988; O'Brien and Sumner, 1988; van Raij et al., 1988; Meyer et al., 1991; Malavolta, 1992; Shainberg et al., 1989; Sousa et al., 1992b; Sumner, 1990; Vitti et al., 1992). As a result the crop can better withstand periodic droughts during the season, which translates into increases in yield. In general, the effects of gypsum applications on soil pH in the field have been small or inconsistent, probably as a result of the salt effect in measuring soil pH being ignored or of soil heterogeneity and sampling errors (Shainberg et al., 1989). When these factors are eliminated or controlled, soil pH usually increases after gypsum application (Bolan et al., 1992a; Chaves et al., 1988; Sumner et al., 1986a,b). This phenomenon is very well illustrated by the data of da Silva and van Raij (1992), who compared the effects of continued applications of single and triple superphosphate over a long period in Brazil (Table 111). The effect of the gypsum contained in the single superphosphate can be clearly seen,

+

8

MALCOLM E. SUMNER Table I11 Comparison of the Effects of Cumulative Applications of Single and Triple Superphosphate over 17 Years at 100 kg P 2 0 sha - I year - I " pH in 0.01 M CaCl Sampling depth (cm)

Triple Single superphosphate superphosphate

0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 800- 100 100- 120

5.2 4.6 4.3 4.2 4.3 4.5

5.4 4.7 4.9 5.0 5.2 4.9

"Difference between treatments equivalent to 4.5 gypsum ha-'. From da Silva and Van Raij (1992).

t

particularly in the subsoil, where the pH in CaCl, has been raised by nearly 1 pH unit to a depth of 1.2 m in the profile. Improved rooting with depth has been measured with a variety of crops in Brazil, South Africa, and the southeastern United States as illustrated in Table IV. Clearly gypsum has had a profound effect on the ability of the roots of various

Table IV Effect of Gypsum Application on the Distribution of Roots of Various Crops Down the Profiles of Highly Weathered Soils Maize South Africa (Farina and Channon, 1988)

Root density (m L - l ) Depth (cm)

Cont

Gyp

Apples Maize Brazil Alfalfa Brazil (M. A. Pavan, Georgia (Sousa and private communica- (Sumner and Carter, 1988) Ritchey, 1986) tion, 1991) Relative root distribution (%)

Cont

Gyp

Root density (cmg-')

Root length (m m - ' )

Cont

Gyp

Cont

Gyp

50 60 18 18 18

119 104 89 89 89

375 40 11 52 4

439 94 96 112 28

~~

0- 15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-75

3.10 2.85 1.80 0.45 0.08

2.95 I .60 2.00 3.95 2.05

53 27 10

8 2

34 25 12 19 10

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

9

Table V Effect of Gypsum Treatments and Days without Irrigation during a Very Dry Season on the Yields of Maize and Soybeans Grown nn an Oxisol in Brazilo soybeans

Maize

Days without irrigation prior to flowering Gypsum rate ( + ha - I ) 0 2

4 6 LSD,,,

0

25

0

21

42

2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 0.2

1.5 1.6

t/ha 4.7

-

6.8 0.4

3.2 3.6 4.6 5.5

2.2 -

1.0

NS

2.6

1.5

2.2 0.4

OFrom Sousa ei al. (1992b).

crops to penetrate acid subsoils where conditions were previously hostile. In all cases presented in Table IV, there were decreases in exchangeable A1 and increases in exchangeable Ca with depth as a result of the gypsum applications. These improved soil chemical conditions allowed the roots to extract more water from the subsoils, which, under water-limited conditions, will always translate into increased yields (Carvalho et af., 1986; Chaves et af., 1988; Shainberg et al., 1989). This effect is well illustrated by the data of Sousa et af.( 1992b), who studied the interaction between gypsum and irrigation treatments on the yield of soybeans (Table V). The gypsum effect is more marked under the more severe drought stress conditions. In many instances, it has been possible to measure this drought relief due to gypsum in terms of increased leaf water potentials (Carvalho et af., 1986; M. A. Pavan, private communication, 1991). Van Raij er af. (1988) have demonstrated that gypsum promoted sorghum root growth in the presence and absence of acid-forming nitrogenous fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate), but in the presence of calcium nitrate the effect was reversed. This resulted in increased uptake of N and increased extraction of K, NH,, and NO, from the subsoil. Over all N carriers, gypsum increased soil pH in CaCI, and reduced exchangeable Al, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The beneficial effects on maize yield of the P contained in PG have been demonstrated by M. P. W. Farina (private communication, 1991) and are illustrated in Table VI. Responses were obtained only at the lowest two P rates to the P contained in the phosphogypsum, which was also reflected in the P contents of leaves and soil. Meyer et al. (1991) obtained a response to phosphogypsum on sugarcane, which they attributed largely to its P content. Van der Watt et al.

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

10

A 4.4

4.3

0

N

o

0

-

1.0

+

0.5

0 0

4.2

> :

I n

4.1

z 4.0

0 wlthout gypsum I

1

-5

0

0 wlth gypsum

4

0 without gypsum

I

5

10

meq(*)/pot

Figure 5. Effect of gypsum on (A) pH in CaC12 and (B)exchangeable Al over a range of cation anion balances induced by acid- and alkali-forming N carriers. (From van Raij et al.. 1988.)

Table VI Effect of P (0.74%)in Pbosphogypum on Maize Yield and Leaf and Soil P Contents" Phosphogypsum applied (t ha-')

P applied (kg ha - I ) 40

80

160

Silage yield (t ha-') 5 0

LSDoos

10.07 9.16

10.68 9.92

1 I .22

11.18

0.51

0.51

0.51

Leaf P (S) 5

0.25

0.29

0 LSDaos

0.22 0.01

0.25 0.01

0.31 0.30 0.01

Olsen extractable soil P (mg L-' )

5 0 LSDam

13 8 4

24

45

18

44

4

4

"From M. P. W. Farina, private communication ( 199 I).

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

11

(1991) and van der Watt and Claassens (1990a) found that Bray I1 P was increased significantly by the application of phosphogypsum (0.36% P) at rates between 8 and 30 t ha-'. On an infertile Ultisol, Sumner (1990) found over a period of 3 years a slight beneficial effect (yield increase of about 500 kg alfalfa hay ha-' year-') from the P contained in a 10 t ha-l application of phosphogypsum (0.28% P). Thus the P content of the PG should be taken into account in evaluating the economics of its use. Sousa and Ritchey (1986) and van Raij et al. (1988) have demonstrated a further benefit of PG in the increased recovery of nitrate from subsoil horizons. Furthermore, Sousa et al. (1992b) have demonstrated the beneficial effects of gypsum in promoting the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, S, Cu, and Mn on an Oxisol in Brazil. In some cases, particularly on very sandy infertile soils, heavy gypsum applications (>5 t ha-') have had a negative effect on crop growth due to the preferential removal of Mg from the upper part of the profile but with little change in the K status (Syed-Omar and Sumner, 1991). A h a and Gascho (1991) also demonstrated that K and Mg were leached more easily from sandy than from sandy clay loam soils. Under such circumstances, gypsum applications should be made with extreme care with precautions being taken to apply Mg to the topsoil after the gypsum front has moved down the profile. Chaves et al. (1988), van der Watt et al. (1991), and Vitti et al. (1992) reported severe losses of Mg and K from the upper 60 cm of a red loam and from two Oxisols, whereas Farina and Channon (1988) reported substantial downward movement of Mg on a similar soil. Such downward movement of Mg as a result of gypsum applications has been reported by many other workers (Oates and Caldwell, 1985; O'Brien and Sumner, 1988; Quaggio, 1992; Ritchey et al., 1981; Shainberg eral., 1989; Sumner, 1990; Suzuki et al., 1992; van der Watt and Claassens, 1990a,b; Morelli et al., 1992). On a commercial basis, gypsum is being applied extensively to sugarcane in South Africa (J. Spencer, private communication, 1991), alfalfa in Georgia, sugarcane in Brazil, and coffee in Guatemala with good results in all cases.

B. PREDICTION OF CROPRFSPONSESTO GYPSUM APPLICATIONS Sumner ( 1990) demonstrated that responsive and nonresponsive soils could be separated on the basis of the soil's ability to remove both Ca and SO, from a dilute solution (0.005 M ) of gypsum in combination with the difference in pH measured in 0.005 M CaSO, and 0.005 M CaCl, (ApH). Soils that respond to gypsum lie in the quadrant where both of these values are positive (Fig. 6). Sousa et al. (1992a) have suggested that the quantity of gypsum required to obtain a yield response should be based on measurements of the amounts of Ca and S

12

MALCOLM E. SUMNER 0.75 h

-N

u

0

0

0.50

I

In 0

9

0

'*

$

0.25

0

0

I

In 0

8

v

0.00

I

n

a

-0.25 -1000

0

1000

Gypsum sorbed (pprn)

Figure 6. Relationship between ApH and gypsum sorbed for responsive ( 0 ) and nonresponsive Sumner, 1990.)

(0) soils. (From

adsorbed by the soil. They found the best predictor to be the amounts of Ca and S retained by the soil relative to those remaining in solution.

C. SOILSOLUTIONSTUDIES Many studies (Pavan et al., 1982, 1984; Ritchey et al., 1981; Shainberg et al., 1989; Sumner et al., 1986b; van Raij, 1988; Furlani and Berton, 1992) have been conducted on the effect of gypsum application on the chemistry of the soil solution. In general, the results have demonstrated that (a) sometimes but not always the solution pH increases slightly, (b) the total concentration of A1 increases usually in the form of Also,+ while the activity of A13+ invariably decreases, and (c) the concentration and activity of Ca2+ increase markedly in all cases. This behavior is well illustrated by the data (Table VII) of Chaves et al. (1991), who grew coffee in a greenhouse experiment on two soils. In the case of both soils, there is a substantial reduction in exchangeable A1 as a result of gypsum application that, in the Latosol Roxo, is reflected in reduced A13+ activity in the soil solution. The CaCI, treatment had the opposite effect. In both cases, gypsum improved root and top growth of the coffee

13

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS Table VII

Effect of Gypsum and CaCI, Applied at Rates Equivalent to the CaCO, Required to Bring the pH to 6.0 on the Speciation of Al in Solution and the Growth of Roots and Tops of Coffee" Treatment Latosol Roxo Parameter PH (0.01 M CaCI,) Exch. A1 (meq 1OOg-I) Exch. Ca (meq 1OOg-I) Ca2+ (mmol L-I) Total solution A1 (mmol L-I) All+ (mmol L - I ) ALSO,'

(mmol L-I) Root volume (cm'plant-I) Root length (cm plant - I ) Root weight (g plant - I ) Total dry matter (g plant - I )

Dark red Latosol

Cont

Gyp

CaCl,

Cont

Gyp

CaCl

4.6

4.5

4.2

5.0

5.2

4.5

I .so

1.16

1.82

0.10

0.03

0.45

0.80

1.30

5.67

0.37

4.60

I .60

0.247

0.373

0.380

0.139

0.165

0.434

0.096

0.105

0.105

-

-

-

0.056

0.021

0.080

-

-

-

0.004

0.061

-

-

-

-

9.09

6.90

15.37

15.48

7.60

20.61

1980

4888

2855

2303

3143

2576

1430

2480

1387

0.682

2289

2035

8939

1 1.876

6924

2717

83 LO

75 10

"From Chaves er al. (1991).

significantly, whereas CaCl, was much less effective. These data clearly indicate that when gypsum is applied, both exchangeable A1 and A13+ activity are reduced and exchangeable Ca and Ca2+ activity are increased. Although CaCl, increases the Ca components, it also substantially increases the activity of Al'+ in solution. It is difficult to determine which effect is directly responsible for the improved root growth and it is probable that both the increased Ca2+ and reduced AP+ activity are jointly responsible as reported elsewhere (Noble and Sumner, 1988, 1989; Noble e? al., 1988a,b). Similar results have been reported by van Raij (1988). Apparently conflicting results have been presented by Nogueira and Mozeto (1990), who found that gypsum increased exchangeable Al, total A1 in solution, and A13+activity of all but one soil (Latosol

14

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

Roxo), but the method used was not comparable with those used in other studies and is probably part of the reason for the disagreement. In addition, all the soils used contained extremely low levels of exchangeable and solution A1 prior to treatment, which would raise the question of detection limits.

D. LEACHING STUDIESWITH GYPSUM Many leaching studies, using both disturbed and undisturbed soil columns, have been conducted with a wide variety of soils (Chaves er al., 1988; Kotze and Deist, 1975; Lemus-Grob, 1985; Oates and Caldwell, 1985; O’Brien and Sumner, 1988; Pavan er al., 1984; Reeve and Sumner, 1972; Shainberg ef al., 1989) and, in most cases, the pattern of behavior has been the same and similar to that found in the field, namely, a decrease in exchangeable A1 and an increase in exchangeable Ca without A1 appearing in the leachate. However, in some cases (Camargo and van Raij, 1989; Kotze and Deist, 1975; Oates and Caldwell, 1985; O’Brien and Sumner, 1988), the gypsum was reported to move down the columns and appreciable amounts of A1 appeared in the leachates. This apparent conflict may result from the short columns (15-20 cm) used in two of the studies (Camargo and van Raij, 1989; Oates and Caldwell, 1985) and, in the other cases, from the use of an artificially acidified topsoil (Kotze and Deist, 1975) or very sandy soils (O’Brien and Sumner, 1988). In one case (Oates and Caldwell, 1985), the use of hydrofluorogypsum containing 2.3% F resulted in most of the A1 in the short column being removed presumably as an AI-F soluble complex. In most cases, the favorable reactions induced by gypsum have been observed only in subsoil materials. In some soils (Lemus-Grob, 1985; O’Brien and Sumner, 1988), substantial quantities of Si were found in the leachate, which would support the reaction in equation 4 below for the decomposition of kaolinite, which is less stable under acid conditions than some of the A1 hydroxy sulfates. Oates and Caldwell (1985) and’O’Brien and Sumner (1988) found that gypsum promoted the downward movement of Mg and K. Sousa and Ritchey (1986) showed that gypsum readily displaced nitrate from the profile of a dark red Latosol. Camargo and van Raij (1989) have demonstrated that the passage of CaZ+and S02- ions through soils is a function of their electrochemical properties (Fig. 7). In two subsoil horizons of a red-yellow Latosol that, over the pH range 3.7 to 5.4, were net negatively charged, the passage of Sodz-was retarded roughly in inverse proportion to the net negative charge. At a pH of 5.4, this retardation had completely disappeared. The reverse was true for Caz+.However, in a Latosol Roxo, both Caz+and Sodzwere retarded to a much greater extent over the entire pH range 3.7 to 6.9. Under very acid conditions where the soil had a net

15

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS soq-

Ca2+ low pH

natural pH

”

high pH

low pH

natural pH

high pH

1 3 5 7

1 3 5 7

yellow red Latosol (0-40 cm)

yellow red Latosol (40-80 cm)

0O

f1 3 K5 7 I V&

1Q 3 5L 7 J 1 3 5 7

L

1 3 5 7

geothltlc purple Latosol (60-80 cm)

V/V,

l

Figure 7. Effect of pH on the elution patterns for Ca2+and S042- in three Brazilian soils. (From Camargo and van Raij, 1989.)

positive charge, SO,2- passage was entirely inhibited, and at high pH, the passage of Ca2+was almost completely prevented.

E. MECHANISMS INVOLVED INSUBSOIL ACIDITYAMELIORATION Subsoil amelioration with gypsum involves the concomitant increase in exchangeable and solution Ca and a decrease in exchangeable and solution Al, the relative effects of which are impossible to separate (Shainberg et al., 1989). There is little doubt that both are important in promoting improved root growth. The mechanisms by which A1 is rendered less labile by gypsum treatment is of particular interest because simple cation exchange considerations would predict the opposite. 1. “Self-Liming Effect”

Much evidence has been presented here and elsewhere (Alva et al., 1990; Farina and Channon, 1988; Shainberg et al., 1989; Sumner et al., 1986b) to support the “self-liming” effect originally proposed by Reeve and Sumner

16

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

(1972), which essentially involves the ligand and exchange of OH by SO, on sesquioxide surfaces followed by hydrolysis and precipitation of exchangeable A1 as follows: OH 2 [Fe ,All

/

\ [Fe,Al]

\

+ Ca2 + SO,,-+

/ OH

so,-

/

\

\

/

2[Fe ,All

[Fe,AI]

+ Ca(OH2)

OH 2A13+

+ 3Ca(OH),+

2A1(OH)3

+ 3Ca2+

(2)

2. Precipitation of Solid Phases The precipitation of solid phases can also be explained in terms of the precipitation of one or more basic A1 sulfates (Adams and Rawajfih, 1977; Hue et al., 1985; Sposito, 1985), which are quite stable under very acid (pH < 4.5) soil conditions. The result of applying gypsum to acid subsoil would be exactly the same as proposed in the foregoing when this hypothesis is invoked as follows:

+ CaSO, + AIOHSO, + Ca(OH), + CaSO, + 5H20+ 2AIOHS0, + 2H,SiO, + 2Ca(OH), ZAP+ + 3Ca(OH), + AI(OH)3

Al(OH), Al,Si,O,(OH),

(3) (4)

(5)

Because such small amounts of new solid phases would be formed, it is impossible to obtain incontrovertible evidence for these reactions, but under certain conditions they are thermodynamically feasible.

3. Co-sorption of SO,*- and A13

+

However, in other cases, the soil solution of some gypsum-treated subsoils is undersaturated with respect to all possible solid phases, which led Sumner et al. (1986a) to suggest that sesquioxide surface reactions may exert the ultimate control. When SO4,- is specifically adsorbed to a sesquioxidic surface, the negative surface charge density increases, which would impart a preference for A13 adsorption and thus lowering its activity in solution. +

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

17

4. Ion Pair Formation Pavan et al. (1982, 1984) and Chaves et al. (1991) proposed that A1 toxicity is reduced by the formation of the ion pair AISO,' , which has been shown to be less toxic than A13+ (Noble et a l . , 1988a). This mechanism is likely to be of greatest importance in nutrient solutions in the absence of solid phases but may also be of importance in soils provided that the level of SO,2- in the soil solution is maintained at high enough levels to stabilize the Also,+ and if the replenishment of A13+from solid phases in response to the formation of Also4+ is slow enough. However, it is likely to be more short-lived than the mechanisms discussed earlier (111, E, 1 and 111, E, 2).

TV. GYPSUM As AN AMELIORANT FOR SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES In addition to its beneficial effects on the chemical properties of subsoils, gypsum has been shown to markedly improve both the internal and surface physical properties of acid soils in many regions of the world. The reader is referred to a review (Shainberg et al., 1989) that discusses these effects in great detail and will be used as a starting point for the discussion to follow.

A. SURFACE CRUSTING To set the stage for a clear understanding of the potential benefits of gypsum in this application, it is necessary to briefly discuss clay dispersion. Contrary to popular belief, which states that dispersive soils are those containing elevated levels of Na, many highly weathered acid topsoils throughout the world have been found to disperse under conditions of low electrolyte concentration in the soil solution and mechanical energy inputs (Miller and Radcliffe, 1992; Shainberg et al., 1989). This is illustrated in Fig. 8 for 32 Ultisol topsoils from Georgia that were gently shaken with distilled water and allowed to stand. A large proportion of these soils contain appreciable quantities of dispersible clay. Conditions favoring the dispersion of clay are present during every rainstorm at the soil surface. Under the impact of a raindrop, aggregates at the surface are disintegrated and, because the clay is dispersible at low electrolyte concentrations, it separates from the larger particles and moves into the pore space, which becomes blocked, thus lowering infiltration and increasing runoff and erosion. In soils containing appreciable quantities of sand (loams, sandy loams, and loamy sands), this process often leaves a layer of clean sand grains on the soil surface called

18

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

* Q)

30

1

25 -

Q

E 0

20-

v,

+. 0 +

15 10 -

0

I Q)

a

50-t-

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Dispersible clay (%) Figure 8. Frequency distribution of water-dispersible clay in a selection of 32 Georgia Ultisols. (From Miller and Radcliffe, 1992.)

the “washed out” layer, which is a positive clue that a less permeable seal (“washed in” layer) has formed. This is clearly visible in Fig. 9A, where the sand grains are the light-colored areas in the depressions in the field and the crust formed is shown in transverse section (Fig. 9B). At the top of the section the thin seal (ca. 1 mm thick) or “washed in” layer can be clearly seen. The amount of water-dispersible clay in a topsoil is directly related to the reduction in final infiltration rate under rainfall and to the resulting soil loss as illustrated in Fig. 10. These processes of soil degradation can be overcome by either reducing or eliminating the mechanical energy of impacting raindrops using a mulch or other soil cover or by spreading gypsum over the surface after preparing the seedbed and before the next rain to supply electrolyte to promote flocculation. Because the gypsum must dissolve very rapidly to prevent dispersion, only by-product gypsum materials are suitable for this application (Shainberg et al., 1989). The effect of PG in preventing crust formation and subsequent runoff and erosion for a variety of acid soils is presented in Table VIII. In all cases except the Brazilian Typic Haplorthox, the pattern of behavior was the same with surface-applied PG promoting flocculation of the clay at the soil surface and increasing final infiltration rate and decreasing soil loss. For the Oxisol, which had a pH of 4.0, gypsum, in fact, reduced final infiltration rate, which can be attributed to the greater dispersive effect of the added Ca over that of the Al originally present, which would have promoted flocculation (Sumner, 1992). This view is supported by

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

19

Figure 9. Appearance of the soil surface (A) of a Georgia Ultisol after a crust (B)has formed. (From Sumner and Miller, 1992.)

20

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

A

-

5 -

m

f. D

4 -

z

- 3 -

h

f

E

5

0

J 4 c

I

3

n

C

s

$ 2

.-

E

2 -

:: 1 -

c

2 1

-E

0 -0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Water Dlsperslble Clay Index

Figure 10. Relationships between water-dispersible clay and (A) final infiltration rate and (B) soil loss for a range of Georgia Ultisols under simulated rainfall. (From Miller and Radcliffe, 1992.)

the fact that, when this soil was limed to pH 6.0, the final infiltration rate was even further reduced and the sediment concentration in the runoff was markedly increased. Roth and Pavan (1991) showed for this soil that the clay concentration in the runoff increased with increasing pH. Unfortunately, gypsum was not applied to the limed topsoil, which would have been expected to restore the infiltration rate. The tendency of an Alfisol and an Oxisol to disperse as their pH values were raised from 3 to 7 has been reported by Rengasamy et al. (1993). In the former case, there was a large increase in the variable negative charge, whereas for the Oxisol, there was a charge reversal of substantial magnitude. The foregoing results emphasize the importance of pH in the management of soils to reduce crusting. Liming acid soils even with divalent ions (Ca2+and Mg2+)will tend to promote dispersion and its consequences. Other research (Miller and Scifres, 1988) shows that even small additions of Na (equivalent to 100 kg N ha-') as NaNO, can have severe deleterious effects on infiltration rate, runoff, and erosion of highly weathered acid soils. Norton (1991) demonstrated that several sulfur-rich by-product materials containing gypsum from power plants were effective in reducing crusting. Miller (1988) demonstrated the beneficial effects of PG at 2 t ha-' applied over the row on the emergence of cotton on a Norfolk sandy loam (Typic Kandiudult) as illustrated in Table IX. Emergence was better at all times up to 12 days on the gypsum treatment and the effect was particularly marked at the earlier stages. The beneficial effect is due to crust prevention above the seed during the first rainfall event after planting. It can thus be concluded that by-product gypsum is a viable remedy for the prevention of soil crusting and its attendant problems on soils containing water-

21

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS Table VIII

Effect of Phosphogypsumon Final Infiltration Rate, Total Runoff, Sediment Concentration, and Soil Loss for Acid Inceptlsols, Alfisols, and Ultisols" Final infiltration rate (mmh-I) Soil typeand location Cecil (Typic Kanhapludult) Georgia Worsham (Typic Ochraquult) Georgia Wedowee (Typic Hapludult) Georgia Greenville (Rhodic Kandiudult) Georgia Opequon (Lithic Hapludalf) Maryland Shorrocks (Rhodic Paleastalf) South Africa Typic Rhodoxeralf Israel R hodoxeralf Israel Mitra (Lithic Xerochrept) Portugal Formoso (Lithic Rhodoxeralf) Portugal Appling (Typic Kanhapludult) Georgia Rhodic Haplorthox Brazil Typic Haplorthox Brazil

Sediment concentration (g L-1)

Soil loss (kg ha-')

Cont

Gyp

Cont

Gyp

Cont

Gyp

7.3

22.2

266

96

1.28

1.43

0.8

2.2

1315

732

3.96

2.96

2.3

11.0

1135

442

3.43

3.15

11

23

939

50

1.42

0.45

2.3

7.5

250

80

-

-

22.2

40.8

-

-

-

-

11.7

17.5

25800

2000

-

-

4.5

11.7

66800

8000

-

-

4.8

8.8

1700

1260

3.2

2.8

5.6

10.0

1980

1500

3.8

3.5

21

61

3812

1468

4.2

2.2

37.7

25.6

-

-

0.98

1.17

37.7

11.8'

-

-

0.98

2.48

'

"From Agassi er al. (1989). Miller (1987). Miller and Scifres (1988), Norton er al. (1993). Roth et al. (1986). Roth and Pavan (1991), Shainberg er al. (1991), d. Scifres, private communication (1990), van der Watt and Claassens (199Ob), and Warrington er al. (1989). 'Limed to pH 6.0 without gypsum.

22

MALCOLM E. SUMJVER Table IX Effect of Surface Application of Phosphogypsum on Emergence of Cotton Seedlings on a Typic Kandiuduit in Georgia" Days after planting 3

4

Treatment Control Gypsum

5

9

12

56 69

68 79

Emergence (%) 12 37

22 45

35 55

"From Miller (1988).

dispersible clay. Currently, gypsum is being used commercially in Israel, Georgia, and Australia (Howell, 1987) for this purpose.

B. HARDSETTING SOILS In Australia in particular, there have been many reports of soils that have very weak water-stable aggregation and that slake and slump, and the entire topsoil sets hard on drying. A full description of these soils has been presented in a review by Mullins e? al. (1990) to which the interested reader is referred. Although these soils are not always acid by the definition outlined at the beginning of this review, a large proportion are and hence the brief discussion of hardsetting behavior in relation to amelioration by gypsum. There is little question that for hardsetting to occur, the soil must be in the sandy loam textural range, be low in organic matter, and contain dispersible clay and possibly cementing agents such as amorphous silica or other short-range materials (Chartres et al., 1990; Sumner, 1993). There is a parallel between crusting and hardsetting behavior with the major difference being that the structure of hardsetting soils is so unstable that even wetting causes aggregate breakdown and clay movement within the entire A, horizon, whereas in crusting, clay mobility is only manifest in the top few millimeters of soil. A number of studies have demonstrated that gypsum alleviates the hardsetting character of these soils probably primarily as a result of its beneficial effects on physical properties such as clay dispersion, crusting, and hydraulic conductivity (Grierson, 1978; So et al., 1978; Shanmuganathan and Oades, 1983; White and Robson, 1989), promotion of aggregate stability and macroporosity (Loveday and Scotter, 1966; Grierson, 1978; So et al., 1978; Chartres et al., 1985; Taylor and Olsson, 1987). reduction in exchangeable Na (Loveday and Scotter, 1966;

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

23

Grierson, 1978; Greene and Ford, 1985; Taylor and Olsson, 1987), and modulus of rupture (Grierson, 1978; So eral., 1978; Alymore and Sills, 1982; White and Robson, 1989). Because leaching removes gypsum from the upper part of the soil profile where the major problem in hardsetting is located, periodic applications are necessary both to maintain adequate electrolyte to prevent dispersion and slumping and to slowly reduce the ESP level (Chartres et al., 1985; Greene and Ford, 1985). Greene and Wilson (1989) demonstrated that over a period of 3.5 years, the beneficial effects of gypsum on clay dispersion were lost as a result of leaching, but because the establishment of pasture protected the surface from the impacting raindrops, no loss in hydraulic conductivity was recorded. This work confirmed that of Quirk (1978), who came to the conclusion that once pasture had been established, the increased level of organic matter stabilized the structure, thus reducing the need for further gypsum. Taylor and Olsson (1987), working with alfalfa on a red-brown earth, came to essentially the same conclusion that initially responses to gypsum are due to the electrolyte effect and once the crop has established a good root system, biological stabilization of structure takes place, allowing continued penetration by water despite reduced EC levels in the upper part of the soil. The gypsum treatments reduced ESP values down the profile to 0.6 m. Cochrane and Alymore (1991) found that dispersive failure was the main mechanism contributing to the structural instability of a brown solonetzic soil from western Australia and demonstrated that gypsum application, which reduced dispersion, was the major determinant of yield responses. What does not seem to be clear is whether hardsetting behavior can be caused by clays that only disperse with mechanical energy inputs. If so one would expect a surface crust or seal to form, which would reduce the likelihood of the soil wetting up under zero tension because intake of water would be drastically reduced. The author is familiar with soils in southern Africa and the southeastern United States that set hard after wetting and drying. None of these soils contains spontaneously dispersible clay but usually clay can be dispersed with inputs of mechanical energy. There is definitely need for more work in this area to resolve this paradox.

C. SUBSURFACEHARDLAYERS In many highly weathered soils, particularly Ultisols and Alfisols, root penetration into the subsoil is limited by subsurface hard layers in addition to the chemical barrier (Al) discussed earlier. Radcliffe et al. (1986) and Sumner et al. (1 990) demonstrated that both mined and PG incorporated into the topsoil were effective in reducing the Cone Index (CI) of subsoil hard layers after sufficient time had elapsed for the gypsum front to move down the profile as illustrated in Fig. 11. (The CI value is a measure of the resistance of the soil to penetration by

Cone I n d e x D e c r e a s e (%) 0

10

20

30

40

50

I

I

I

I

I

e,:

Appling Alfalfa eMined Gypsum

ele

50 60

ee' ee

n 70

E

(a)

80

f

0

Q

10

20

30

40

0

10

30

20

40

50

0

0

0

10

20

30

40

50

I

I

I

I

I

I

10

i 10 -

20

20

30

30

40

40 - . . e ~ ~ '

50

50

60

60

70

70

80

80

50

0

10

30

20

40

ef

0

50

Cecil cotton Phosphogypsum

10

30

20

40

50

0 10

20

Alfalfa Phosphogypsum

20 -

30 40 50

-

-e-

Phorphogypsum

-e '-

40

RO

50

-

80

-

I-

60 -

60 70

20 - - . y e

30

..e-

j '.

€ e.

Fallow Phosphogypsurn

-e

' 2

70 (8)

80

Figure 11. Decrease in cone index (CI) with depth after application of 10 t ha-' of either mined or phosphogypsum to different soillcrop combinations. Measurements [CI values in MPa below 20 cm] were made (a) 48 13.411, (b) 30 13.441, (c) 30 (3.771. (d) 33 [3.321, (e) 21 16.411. and (f) 21 13.811 months after gypsum treatment. From Sumner et al., 1990.)

2s

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

a cone-shaped needle that is designed to simulate the behavior of a root.) Substantial reductions in resistance to penetration were recorded in all cases and on the only two soils where roots were measured, there were significant improvements in root distribution down the profile. McCray et al. (1991) demonstrated that the CI value was significantly reduced in packed cores of an Ultisol when a gypsum solution rather than distilled water was present in the pore space. Sumner et al. (1990) suggested that gypsum directly affects flocculation and aggregation of the subsoil and indirectly improves rooting, which leads to greater aggregation. Lehrsch et af. (1993) found that gypsum was better than lime in promoting stable aggregation of a range of acid soils after freezing.

D. HYDRAULIC CONDUCTMTY Chiang et al. (1987) found that undisturbed cores of three Ultisols exhibited severe declines in hydraulic conductivity when leached with distilled water. The percolate contained dispersed clay, which is evidence of the degradation and dispersion taking place within the profile. When leached with a saturated gypsum solution, hydraulic conductivity was maintained at a much higher level and the percolate contained no signs of sediment as illustrated in Fig. 12. A curvilinear relationship was found between the final steady-state hydraulic conductivity of these soils and the peak turbidity of the percolate, suggesting that the decline in

WATER

SATURATED GYPSUM

100 /

60

\

,,

80

\.'\

turbidlty

I I

4

, \

I

hydroulic conductivity

40 z II

201 IL

;

h y d r a u l i c conductivity

turbidity=zero

0

4---T 0

I

5

10 Time (rnin)

15

20

0 1

0

10

20

30

I

I

I

I

40

50

60

70

Time (rnin)

Figure 12. Hydraulic conductivity of a Typic Hapludult leached with distilled water and a saturated gypsum solution and the turbidity of the percolates. (From Chiang et af., 1987.)

26

-;I f

20

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

L

Y=26.2 e

-0.04~

2

(r =0.91)

0 C

4

15

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Dispersible clay (g/kg)

Figure 13. Relationship between dispersible clay content and saturated hydraulic conductivity for a number of British and Samoan soils. (From Bolan er al., 1992a.)

hydraulic conductivity is due to clay dispersion that clogs the pores (Miller, 1988). Bolan et al. (1992a) observed that the saturated hydraulic conductivities of two acid British soils and one ferruginous soil from Western Samoa were much lower when leached with pure water than with a gypsum solution, thus confirming the findings of Chiang et al. (1 987). They found a curvilinear relationship between saturated hydraulic conductivity and dispersible clay for all the soils studied (Fig. 13). Field observations on the British soils indicate that soil tilth was improved by the gypsum treatments. These data indicate that gypsum is beneficial in maintaining the internal physical condition of acid soils.

V. CONCLUSIONS 1. Most gypsum materials available on the market have similar compositions but their rates of dissolution vary with surface area and crystallinity. Usually gypsum dissolves faster in soil than in pure solution. 2. When used as an ameliorant for acid subsoils, gypsum treatment has resulted in substantial yield increases in a wide variety of crops. These yield increases are usually due to increased supply of CaZ+and/or the detoxification of

GYPSUM AND ACID SOILS

27

A13+ in the soil, both of which permit improved root proliferation in the subsoil and increased availability of water. 3. Additions of gypsum to soils usually result in the downward movement of Mg and sometimes K. On very sandy soils, this presents serious problems that would preclude gypsum use under such circumstances. 4. The clay in the topsoil of many acid soils (particularly those that have been limed) is readily dispersible in water provided mechanical energy inputs (raindrops) are available. This leads to crusting, which results in increased runoff and erosion. Application of by-product (rapidly soluble) gypsum on the soil surface prior to rain or irrigation substantially reduces crusting and its consequences. 5 . In Ultisols and Alfisols, which have hard subsurface layers, surface-applied gypsum reduces resistance to penetration by roots, resulting in greater root proliferation and water uptake from the subsoil. 6. Recent research suggests that gypsum applications will be useful in improving the hydraulic properties of acid soils.

REFERENCES Adams, F., and Rawajfih, Z. (1977). Basaluminite and alunite: A possible cause of sulfate retention by acid soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J . 41, 686-692. Agassi, M., Shainberg, I., Warrington, D., and Ben-Hur. M. (1989). Runoff and erosion control in potato fields. Soil Sci. 148, 149- 154. Alcardo, 1. S., and Recheigl, J. E. (1993). Phosphogypsum in agriculture: A review. Adv. Agron. 49,55- 118. Aha, A. K., and Gascho, G. J. (1991). Differential leaching of cations and sulfate in gypsum amended soils. Commun. Soil Sci. PIunr Anal. 22, 1195- 1206. Aha, A. K., Sumner. M. E., and Miller, W. P. (1990). Reactions of gypsum or phosphogypsum in highly weathered acid subsoils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J . 54, 993-998. Alymore, L. A. G., and Sills, 1. D. (1982). Characterization of soil structure and stability using modulus of rupture-exchangeable sodium percentage relationships. Aust. J. Soil Res. 20, 2 I 3 - 224. Anonymous (1992). National emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, national emission standards for radon emissions from phosphogypsum stacks. Fed. Reg. 57,23305. Bolan, N. S., Syers, J. K., Adey, M. A., and Sumner, M. E. (l992a). Factors affecting the saturated hydraulic conductivity of non-sodic soils amended with gypsum. J . Soil Sci. (in press). Bolan, N. S . , Syers, 1. K., and Sumner, M. E. (1992b). Dissolution of various sources of gypsum in aqueous solutions and soils. J . Sci. Food Agric. 57, 527-541. Bouldin, D. R. (1973). The influence of subsoil acidity on crop yield potential. Cornell In!. Agric. Bull. 34, 1-17. Camargo, 0 . A., and van Raij, B. (1989). Movimento do gesso em amostras de latossolos com diferentes propiedades eletroquimicas. Rev. Bras. Cien. Solo 13, 275-280. Carvalho, L. J. C. B., Gomide, R. L., Rodriguez, G. C., Souza, D. M. G., and de Freitas, E. ( 1986). Reposta do milho a aplicaqio de gesso e dCficit hidrico em solo de Cerrados. “Anais do 1 SeminLio sobre o Us0 do Fosfogesso na Agricultura,” pp. 61-83. EMBRAPA, Brasilia, D. F., Brazil.

28

MALCOLM E. SUMNER

Chartres, C. 3.. Greene, R. S . , Ford, G. W., and Rengasamy, P. (1985). The effects of gypsum on macroporosity and crusting of two red duplex soils. Aust. J. Soil Res. 23, 467-479. Chartres, C. J., Kirby, J. M., and Raupach, M. (1990). Poorly ordered silica and aluminosilicates as temporary cementing agents in hard-setting soils. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 54, 1060- 1067. Chaves, J. C. D., Pavan. M. A., and Miyazawa, M. (1988). Reduqio da acidez subsuperficial em coluna de solo. Pesqui. Agropecu. Bras. 23,469-476. Chaves. J. C. D., Pavan, M. A,, and Miyazawa, M. (1991). Especiaqio quimica da soluqio do solo para interpretaqio da absoqio de cilcio e aluminio por raizes de cafeeiro. Pesqui. Agropecu. Bras. 26,447-453. Chiang, S. C., Radcliffe, D. E.. Miller. W. P., and Newman, K . D. (1987). Hydraulic conductivity of three southeastern soils as affected by sodium, electrolyte concentration and pH. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J . 51, 1293-1299. Cochrane, H. R . , and Alymore, L. A. G. (1991). Assessing management-induced changes in the structural stability of hardsetting soils. Soil Tillage Res. 20, 123- 132. da Silva, N. M., and van Raij, B. (1992). 0 us0 do gesso e do superfosfato simples na cultura do algodoeiro. “I1 Seminhrio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 159-174. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Dematte, J. L. I. (1992). Aptidio agricola de solos e o us0 do gesso. “I1 Seminhrio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 307-324. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Doner, H. E., and Lynn, W. C. (1989). Carbonate, halide, sulfate and sulfide minerals. In “Minerals in Soil Environments” (J. B. Dixon and S . B. Weed, eds.), pp. 279-330. Am. SOC.Agron., Madison, WI. Ernani, P. R., Cassol, P. C., and Peruzo, G. (1992). Eficikncia agronbmica do gesso agricola no sul do B r a d . “I1 Seminhrio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 263-276. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Farina, M. P. W., and Channon, P. (1988). Acid-subsoil amelioration: 11. Gypsum effects on growth and subsoil chemical properties. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J . 52, 175- 180. Frenkel, H., and Fey, M. V. (1989). Rate of dissolution of gypsum from different sources and its effect on water infiltration. S. A f . J. Plant Soil 6 , 191 - 194. Furlani, P. R., and Berton, R. S. (1992). Atividade de cllcio e aluminio e desenvolvimento radicular. “I1 Seminhrio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 121 - 138. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Greene, R. S. B., and Ford, G. W. (1985). The effect of gypsum on cation exchange in two red duplex soils. Aust. J . Soil Res. 23, 61 -74. Greene, R. S. B., and Wilson, I. B. (1989). Amelioration of some physical properties and nutrient availability of an exposed B horizon of a red-brown earth. Soil Use Manage. 5 , 66-71. Grierson, I. T. (1978). Gypsum and red-brown earths. In “Modification of Soil Structure’’ (W. W. Emerson, R. D. Bond, and A. R. Dexter, eds.), pp. 315-324. Wiley, New York. Guimaries, P. T. C. (1986). 0 gesso agricola na neutralizagio do aluminio nas camadas subsupeficias do solo: AplicaqBes As cultivars anuais e perenes. “Anais do I Seminhrio sobre o Us0 do Fosfogesso na Agricultura,” pp. 145- 168, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, D. F., Brazil. Guimaries, P. T. C. (1992). 0 us0 do gesso agricola na cultura do cafeeiro. “I1 Seminhrio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 175- 190. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Hammel, J. E., Sumner, M. E., and Shahandeh, H. (1985). Effect of physical and chemical profile modification on soybean and corn production. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J . 49, 1508- 1512. Haynes, R. J. (1984). Lime and phosphate in the soil-plant system. Adv. Agron. 37, 249-315. Howell, M. (1987). Gypsum use in the wheatbelt. J . Agric., West. Aust. 28, 40-43. Hue, N. V., Adams, F., and Evans, C. E. (1985). Sulfate retention by an acid BE horizon of an Ultisol. SoilSci. Sor. Am. J . 49, 1196-1200. Keren, R., and Shainberg, I. (1981). Effect of dissolution rate on the efficiency of industrial and mined gypsum in improving infiltration of a sodic soil. Soil Sci. Sac. Am. J . 45, 103- 107.

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Kotze, W. A. G., and Deist, J. (1975). Amelioration of subsurface acidity by leaching of surface applied amendments. A laboratory study. Agrochemophysica 7 , 39-46. Lehrsch, G. A,, Sojka, R. E., and Jolley, P. M. (1993). Freezing effects on aggregate stability of soils amended with lime and gypsum. Catena. Suppl. (in press). Lemus-Grob, F. (1985). Effects and behavior of gypsum in an Ultisol. M.S. Thesis, University of Georgia, Athens. Loveday, J., and Scotter, D. R. (1966). Emergence response of subterranean clover to dissolved gypsum in relation to soil properties and evaporative conditions. Aust. J . Soil Res. 4, 55-68. Malavolta, E. (1992). 0 gesso agncola no ambiente e na nutrieb da planta-Perguntas e respostas. “I1 Seminiirio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 41 -66. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Malavolta, E., Guilherme, M. R., and Liem, 7 .H. (1986). Associq6es fosfogesso calchrio: Principios e aplicaq6ees. “Anais do I Seminiirio sobre o Us0 do Fosfogesso na Agricultura,” pp. 177196, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, D.F., Brazil. Mays, D. A,, and Mortvedt, J. J. (1986). Crop response to soil applications of phosphogypsum. J . Environ. Qual. 15, 78-8 I . McCray, J. M., Radcliffe, D. E., and Sumner, M. E. (1991). Influence of solution Ca on water retention and soil strength of Typic Hapludults. Soil Sci. 151, 312-316. Meyer, J. H., Turner, P. E. T.. and Fey, M. V. (1991). Interim evaluation of phosphogypsum as an ameliorant for soil acidity in sugarcane. Proc. Annu. Congr.-S. Ajk Sugar Technol. Assoc. 65,41-46. Miller, W. P. (1987). Infiltration and soil loss of three gypsum-amended Ultisols under simulated rainfall. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 51, 1314-1320. Miller, W. P. (1988). “Use of Gypsum to Improve Physical Properties and Water Relations in Southeastern Soils,” Publ. No. 01-020-082. Florida Institute of Phosphate Research, Bartow. Miller, W. P., and Radcliffe, D. E. (1992). Soil crusting in the southeastern United States. I n “Soil Crusting: Chemical and Physical Processes” (M. E. Sumner and B. A. Stewart, eds.), pp. 233266. Lewis Publ.. Boca Raton, FL. Miller, W. P., and Scifres, J. (1988). Effect of sodium nitrate and gypsum on infiltration and erosion of a highly weathered soil. Soil Sci. 145, 304-309. Miller, W. P., and Sumner, M. E. (1991). Impacts from radionuclides on soil treated with phosphogypsum. USEPA, unpublished report. Morelli, J. L., Dalben, A. E., Almeida, J. 0. C., and Dematte, J. L. 1. (1992). Calciirio e gesso na produtividade da cana-de-aqicar e nas caractensticas qufmicas de um latossolo de textura mkdia Blico. Rev. Eras. Cien. Solo 16, 187-194. Mullins, C. E., MacLeod, D. A., Northcote, K. H., Tisdall. J. M., and Young, I. M. (1990). Hardsetting soils: Behavior, occurrence and management. A h . Soil Sci. 11,38- 108. Noble, A. D.. and Sumner. M. E. (1988). Calcium and Al interactions and soybean growth in nutrient solutions. Commun. Soil Sci. PIanr Anal. 19, 11 19- 1131. Noble, A. D.. and Sumner, M. E. (1989). Growth and nutrient content of soybeans in relation to solution calcium and aluminum. S . Afr. J. Plant Soil 6, 113-1 19. Noble, A. D., Sumner, M. E., and Aha, A. K. (1988a). The pH dependency of aluminum phytotoxicity alleviation by calcium sulfate. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 52, 1398- 1402. Noble, A. D., Fey, M.V.,and Sumner, M. E. (1988b). Calcium-aluminum balance and the growth of soybean roots in nutrient solutions. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 52, 1651-1656. Nogueira, A. R. A , , and Mozeto, A. A. (1990). Interag6es qufmicas do sulfato e carbonato de cdcio em seis solos Paulistas sob vegeteb de cerrado. Rev. Eras. Cien. Solo 14, 1-6. Norton, L. D. (1991). Comparison of the effectiveness of several sulfur rich by-products on reducing surface sealing. Agron. Abstr. 83, 337. Norton, L. D., Shainberg, I., and King, K. W. (1993). Utilization of gypsiferous amendments to reduce surface sealing in some humid soils in the eastern USA. Carena Suppl. (in press).

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Oates, K. M., and Caldwell, A. G. (1985). Use of by-product gypsum to alleviate soil acidity. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 49,915-918. O’Brien, L. 0..and Sumner, M. E. (1988). Effect of phosphogypsum on leachate and soil chemical composition. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 19, 7- 12. Odom, J. W. (1991). Alfalfa response to gypsum, boron and subsoiling on an acid Ultisol. Agron. Absrr. 83, 296. Oliveira, 1. P., Kluthcouski, J., and Reynier, F. N. (1986). Efeito de fosfogesso na producao de feijao e arroz e no comportamento de alguns nutrientes. “Anais do I SeminLio sobre o Us0 do Fosfogesso na Agricultura,” pp. 119- 144, EMBRAPA, Brasilia, D.F., Brazil. Orvedal, A. C., and Ackerson, K. T. (1972). “Agricultural Soil Resources of the World.” USDA, Soil Conservation Service, Washington DC. Pavan, M. A., and Bingham, F. T. (1986). Effects of phosphogypsum and lime on yield, root density and fruit and foliar composition of apple in Brazilian Oxisols. Proc. Int. Symp. Phosphogypsum,2nd, pp. 51-58, University of Miami, Miami, FL. Pavan, M. A., Bingham, F. T., and Pratt, P. F. (1982). Toxicity of aluminum to coffee in Ultisols and Oxisols amended with CaCO,, MgCO,, and CaS04.2H20. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 46, 1201-1207.

Pavan, M. A., Bingham, F. T., and Pratt, P. F. (1984). Redistribution of exchangeable calcium, magnesium, and aluminum following lime or gypsum applications to a Brazilian Oxisol. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 48, 33-38. Pavan. M. A., Bingham, F. T., and Peryea. F. J. (1987). Influence of calcium and magnesium salts on acid soil chemistry and calcium nutrition of apple. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 52, 1526- 1530. Quaggio, J. A. (1992). Respostas das culturas de milho e soja, A aplicaqio de calcirio, gesso e movimentaqio de ions em solos do Estado de Sio Paulo. “I1 Seminario sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 241-262. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Quirk, J. P. (1978). Some physico-chemical aspects of soil structural stability-A review. In “Modification of Soil Structure’’ (W. W. Emerson, R. D. Bond, and A. R. Dexter, eds.), pp. 308314. Wiley, New York. Radcliffe, D. E., Clark, R. L., and Sumner, M. E. (1986). Effect of gypsum and deep-rooting perennials on subsoil mechanical impedance. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 50, 1566- 1570. Reeve, N. G.,and Sumner, M. E. (1972). Amelioration of subsoil acidity in Natal Oxisols by leaching of surface-applied amendments. Agrochemophysica 4, 1-6. Rengasamy, P., Naidu, R.. Beech, T. A., Chan, K. Y.. and Chartres, C. (1993). Crust formation as related to dispersive potential in Australian soils. Catena, Suppl. (in press). Ritchey, K. D., Souza, D. M. G., Lobato, E., and Correa, 0. (1981). Calcium leaching to increase rooting depth in a Brazilian savannah Oxisol. Agron. J . 72,40-44. Roth, C. H., and Pavan, M. A. (1991). Effects of lime and gypsum on clay dispersion and infiltration in samples of a Brazilian Oxisol. Geoderma 48, 351-361. Roth, C. H., Pavan, M. A., Chaves, J. C. D., Meyer, B., and Frede. H. G. (1986). Efeitos das aplicaq6es de calcLio e gesso sobre a estabilidade de agregados e infiltrabilidade de figua em um Latossolo Roxo cultivado com cafeeiros. Rev. Bras. Cien. Solo 10, 163- 166. Shainberg, I., Sumner, M. E., Miller, W. P., Farina, M. P. W., Pavan, M. A., and Fey, M. V. (1989). Use of gypsum on soils: A review. Adv. Soil Sci. 9, I - 1 I I . Shainberg, I . , Gal, M.. Ferreira, A. G., and Goldstein, D. (1991). Effect of water quality and amendments on the hydraulic properties and erosion from several Mediterranean soils. Soil Technol. 4, 135- 146. Shanmuganathan, R. T., and Oades, J. M. (1983). Modification of soil physical properties by addition of calcium compounds. Ausr. J. Soil Res. 21, 285-300. So, H. B., Tayler, D. W., Yates, W. J., and McGarity, J. W. (1978). Amelioration of structurally

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unstable grey and brown clays. In “Modification of Soil Structure” (W. W. Emerson, R. D. Bond, and A. R. Dexter, eds.), pp. 325-333. Wiley, New York. Sousa, D. M. G., and Ritchey, K. D. (1986). Us0 do gesso no solo de Cerrado. “Anais do I Seminirio sobre o Us0 do Fosfogesso na Agricultura,” pp. 119- 144. EMBRAPA, Brasilia, D.F., Brazil. Sousa. D. M. G., Rein, T. A.. Lobato, E., and Ritchey, K. D. (1992a). Sugestks para diagnose e recommendaGb de gesso em solos de Cerrado. “11 Seminirio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 139- 158. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Sousa, D. M. G., Lobato, E., Ritchey, K. D., and Rein, T. A. (1992b). Resposta de culturas anuais e leucena a gesso no Cerrado. “I1 Seminirio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 277306. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Sposito, G. (1985). Chemical models of weathering in soils. In “The Chemistry of Weathering” (J. I. Drever, ed.), pp. 186-198. Reidel Publ., New York. Sumner, M. E. (1970). Aluminum toxicity-A growth limiting factor in some Natal sands. Proc. Annu. Congr.-S. Afr. Sugar Technol. Assoc. 44, 1-6. Sumner, M. E. (1990). “Gypsum as an Ameliorant for the Subsoil Acidity Syndrome,” Publ. No. 01-024-090. Florida Institute of Phosphate Research, Bartow. Sumner, M. E. (1992). The electrical double layer and clay dispersion. In “Soil Crusting: Chemical and Physical Processes” (M. E. Sumner and B. A. Stewart, eds.), pp. 1-31. Lewis Publ., Boca Raton, FL. Sumner, M. E. (1993). Sodic soils: New perspectives. Ausr. J . Soil Res. (in press). Sumner, M. E., and Carter, E. (1988). Amelioration of subsoil acidity. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 19, 1309-1318. Sumner, M. E., and Miller, W. P. (1992). Soil crusting in relation to global soil degradation. Am. J. Allern. Agric. 7 , 56-62. Sumner, M. E., Fey, M. V., and Farina, M. P. W. (1986a). “Amelioration of Acid Subsoils with Phosphogypsum,” pp. 41 -45. Florida Institute Phosphate Research, Bartow. Sumner. M. E., Shahandeh, H., Bouton, J., and Hammel, J. E. (1986b). Amelioration of an acid soil profile through deep liming and surface application of gypsum. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 50, 1254- 1258. Sumner, M. E., Radcliffe, D. E., McCray, M., Carter, E., and Clark, R. L. (1990). Gypsum as an ameliorant for subsoil hardpans. Soil Techno/. 3, 253-258. Suzuki, A., Basso, C., and Wilms, F. W. W. (1992). 0 us0 de gesso como fonte complementar de calcio em macieira. “I1 Seminirio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 225-240. IBRAFOS, SP, Brazil. Syed, Omar, S. R., and Sumner, M. E. (1991). Effect of gypsum on soil potassium and magnesium status and growth of alfalfa. Commun. Soil Sci. Planf Anal. 22, 2017-2028. Taylor, A. J., and Olsson, K. A. (1987). Effect of gypsum and deep ripping on lucerne (Medicago sariva L.) yields on a red-brown earth under flood and spray irrigation. Ausr. J. Exp. Agric. 27, 84 I - 849. van der Watt, H. v. H., and Claassens, A. S. (1990a). Soil physical and chemical changes resulting from surface applications of phosphogypsum and organic mulch. Trans. Inr. Congr. Soil Sci.. 14fh, Vol. 6, pp. 255-256. van der Watt, H. v. H., and Claassens, A. D. (1990b). Effect of surface treatments on soil crusting and infiltration. Soil Technol. 3, 241 -25 1. van der Watt, H. v. H., Claassens, A. S.. and Croft, G. J. B. (1991). Soil chemical changes resulting from application of phosphogypsum and organic mulch. Unpublished manuscript. van Raij, B. (1988). “Gesso agricola na melhoria do ambiente radicular no subsolo.” AssociaGHo Nacional para Difuslo de Abudos e Corretivos Agricolas, Sio Paulo, Brazil.

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van Raij, B., Cantarella, H., and Furlani, P. R. (1988). Efeito na rea@o do solo da absorGb de amBnio e nitrato pel0 sorgo na preseqa e na audncia de gesso. Rev. Bras. Cien. Solo 12, 131-136.

Vitti, G. C., Ferreira, M. E., and Malavolta, E. (1986). Respostas de culturas anuais e perenes. “Anais do I Seminirio sobre o Us0 do Fosfogesso na Agricultura,” pp. 17-43. EMBRAPA. Brasflia, D.F., Brazil. Vitti, G. C., Mazza, J. A., Pereira, H. S., and Dematte, J. L. I. (1992). Resultados experimentais do us0 de gesso na agricultura-Cana de aqlcar. “I1 Seminirio sobre o Us0 do Gesso na Agricultura,” pp. 191-224. IBRAFOS, SP. Brazil. Warrington, D., Shainberg, I., Agassi, M., and Morin. J. (1989). Slope and phosphogypsum’s effects on runoff and erosion. SoilSci. Soc. Am. J . 53, 1201- 1205. White, P. F., and Robson, A. D. (1989). Emergence of lupins from a hard setting soil compared with peas, wheat and medic. Ausr. J . Agric. Res. 40,529-537.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE: AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO SOIL

MANAGEMENT

R. L. Blevins I and W. W. Frye Department of Agronomy and Division of Regulatory Services University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 40546

I

2

1. Introduction

A. Evolution of Conservation Tillage B. Definitions C. Adoption and Suitability D. Advantages and Disadvantages 11. Conservation Tillage and the Environment A. Soil Erosion B. Water Quality C. Soil Productivity D. Energy Use 111. Soil Physical Properties A. Bulk Density and Compaction B. Soil Aggregation and Infiltration C. Soil Water D. Soil Temperature TV. Soil Chemical Properties A. Soil pH B. Distribution of Nutrients in the Soil C. Soil Organic Matter V. Surface Mulch Management A. Benefits from Crop Residue B. Effects of Tillage on Residue Cover C. Growing Cover Crops for Mulch and Nitrogen VI. Nutrient Management A. Efficient Use of Nitrogen B. Management of Fertilizers VII. Pest Management A. Weed Control B. Diseases and Insects VIII. Conclusions A. Progress in Conservation Tillage B. Future Needs and Direction References 33 Advances in Aqonmny. Volume 51

Copyrighr 0 1993 hy Academic Pres5. Inc. All righrs of reproducrion in any form reserved

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R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

I. INTRODUCTION Conservation tillage is an ecological approach to seedbed preparation and soil surface management. Conservation tillage, in its broad concept, includes many different management practices. Therefore, the choice of the best-suited tillage system may vary widely among different agroecological environments.

A. EVOLUTION OF CONSERVATION TILLAGE During the 1930s, stubble mulching was developed to deal with the severe wind erosion occurring in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Crop residue left on the soil surface was found to be especially effective in keeping the soil in place against wind erosion. Early work on stubble mulching and subsequent conservation tillage is presented in a comprehensive review by McCalla and Army (1961). Keeping the residue anchored at the soil surface proved to be equally effective in preventing soil erosion by water. Researchers in the 1940s (Ellison, 1944; Laws, 1941) showed that the falling raindrop is the main detaching agent in sheet erosion by water. Duley and Kelly (1939) noted the development of a thin compacted layer at the soil surface when unimpeded raindrops hit the bare soil. This layer reduced the infiltration rate, and it was observed that additions of residues on the soil surface improved infiltration and absorbed the energy of the falling raindrops. Pioneering studies on the use of mulch in cropping systems was started in Nebraska by Duley and Russel (1939). As early as the late 1940s, attention turned to development of systems that required less tillage. Minimum tillage researchers advocated reduced amounts of tillage in the late 1940s and began to use plant growth regulators for postemergence weed control. The development of new herbicides in the 1960s allowed conservation tillage systems to successfully evolve. In the 1960s, M. A. Sprague in New Jersey reported successful pasture renovation using chemicals as a substitute for tillage. The development of nonselective contact weed control material that became commercially available in the mid- 1960s was a major breakthrough in making conservation tillage work. Refinement of many of the conservation tillage systems we use today in the United States can be attributed to early workers such as George McKibben (Illinois), D. B. Shear and W. W. Moschler (Virginia), G. B. Triplett and D. M. Van Doren, Jr. (Ohio), J. F. Freeman, Harry Young, and S. H. Phillips (Kentucky), and W. M. Lewis and A. D. Worsham (North Carolina), to name a few. By the 1970s, there was a wide range of herbicides available and rapid progress was being made to develop machinery to effectively plant in soils with little

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35

or without tillage and with minimal disturbance of residues remaining at the soil surface. Interest in soil conservation continued to spread throughout the world in the 1970s and 1980s. By the 1990s, there was a wide range of machinery available specifically developed for conservation tillage. This includes planters, disks, sprayers, and tillage equipment especially designed to leave residues at or near the soil surface. The timing of the successful development of conservation tillage technology was ideal for the U.S. farmers. The 1985 and 1990 Farm Bills contained strong conservation tillage provisions that require any farmer growing annual crops on highly erodible land to have a conservation plan in place by 1990 and fully implemented by 1995. One of the provisions of the bill is mandatory compliance with the conservation program. Conservation tillage that relies on reduced tillage and leaves residues at the soil surface is the most acceptable way for bringing highly erodible land into compliance and should be used when possible to avoid more costly conservation techniques. Conservation tillage has been described by conservationists as the greatest soil conservation practice to come along in the twentieth century. As we approach the twenty-first century, technology to successfully grow crops using a wide variety of conservation tillage systems is available to our farmers. The agricultural alliance of innovative farmers, research scientists, conservationists, and agribusiness has transformed crop residue management and conservation tillage from a concept to a future-oriented system of tillage and residue management that effectively reduces erosion and soil degradation, is cost-effective and will remain environmentally acceptable.

B. DEFINITIONS Conservation tillage is a term encompassing many different soil management practices. One commonly used definition (Mannering and Fenster, 1983) is “any tillage system that reduces loss of soil or water relative to conventional tillage; often a form of non-inversion tillage that retains protective amounts of residue mulch on the surface.” More recently, the definition adopted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is commonly used. CTIC (1992) defines conservation tillage as “any tillage and planting system that maintains at least 30% of the soil surface covered by residue after planting to reduce water erosion; or where soil erosion by wind is a primary concern, maintain at least 1,000 pounds of flat, small grain residue equivalent on the surface during the critical wind erosion period.” This definition is more of a working definition that is especially useful in evaluating crop residue management and a quantitative method of determining if a field meets compliance with the 1985 and 1990 Farm Bills. Within the broad umbrella term “conservation tillage” are several contrast-

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ing tillage systems, but all are designed to protect the soil and water resources. The following are commonly accepted definitions of the most important tillage systems. No-tillage-This involves very minimal mechanical seedbed preparation (narrow band where the seed is placed) and reliance on herbicides or cover crops or both to control weeds. In no-tillage the soil is left undisturbed from harvest to planting, except for possible nutrient injection (CTIC, 1992). Ridge tillage-The soil is left undisturbed from harvest to planting except for nutrient injection. Planting is completed in a seedbed prepared on ridges with sweeps, disk openers, coulters, or row cleaners. The residue is left on the surface between ridges. Weed control is accomplished with herbicides and/or cultivation (CTIC, 1992). Mulch tillage-The soil is disturbed prior to planting. Tillage tools such as chisels, field cultivators, disks, sweeps, or blades are used. Weed control is accomplished with herbicide and/or cultivation (CTIC, 1992). Conventional rillage-Generally refers to moldboard plowing (inversion of the soil) followed by a secondary tillage operation such as disking and/ or harrowing. Weed control may be accomplished by cultivation or through the use of herbicides. A tillage system commonly used in small grain production systems is stubblemulch farming. Stubble-mulch farming is described by Mannering and Fenster (1983) as a system that maintains a protective cover of vegetative residue on the surface at all times. Tillage equipment used in stubble-mulch farming includes those that mix the soil and those that cut beneath the surface without inverting the tilled layer. According to Mannering and Fenster (1983), the stirring and mixing machines include the disk, chisel-plows, field cultivators, and mulch treader. The noninversion subsurface tillage equipment includes sweeps and rotary rod weeders. Another form of small grain tillage is the “direct seeding” or “no-tillage” system. This system allows the small grain to be seeded directly into the residue of the previous crop, and weed control is accomplished with herbicides. Terminology often used in the past, such as “reduced tillage” and “minimum tillage,” may or may not qualify as conservation tillage depending on the level of residue remaining at the soil surface after planting.

C. ADOPTIONAND SUITABILITY The unique properties of individual soils and their ecological environment determine their limitations and suitability for utilizing conservation tillage methods. The rapid technological advances in the development of new and more ef-

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37

fective herbicides along with the development of equipment that can effectively plow or plant through surface residues in relatively undisturbed soils have made it possible for different versions of conservation tillage to be developed around the world. The increasing interest in and rapid growth of conservation tillage are associated with the increasing pressures for food production around the world and the continuing concern about soil degradation by erosion, compaction, and reduced fertility. Conservation tillage is especially well suited for use on sloping lands. These systems are also well suited for well-drained and moderately well-drained soils. The limiting problem of using conservation tillage on wet soils is the inability to remove excess water early enough to allow the soil to warm up in time enough to plant the crop. Furthermore, the wet, nearly level soils do not benefit as much from the lack of tillage and presence of crop residue on the surface. In fact, this system may add to an already existing problem, namely, wetness and cool soil temperatures. As the world population increases, the demand for food and fiber increases. This results in more pressure to use steep, fragile soils that are extremely erosive when cropped. Although it is not prudent to grow crops on steeplands, the use of conservation tillage and structures such as terraces can at least reduce soil erosion losses.

D. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES No single tillage system is suitable for all soils and climatic conditions. For environments where conservation tillage is ecologically suitable, it offers advantages over the moldboard plow or other tillage systems that result in soil inversion or extensive mixing of soil. Advantages include effective soil erosion control, water conservation, less use of fossil fuels normally associated with land preparation, reduced labor requirements, more timeliness of operations or greater flexibility in planting and harvesting operations that may facilitate double cropping, more intensive use of sloping soils, and less risk of environmental pollution. Disadvantages that may be associated with conservation tillage systems include higher herbicide costs, more difficulty in controlling certain weed infestation (e.g., Johnsongrass), and, for imperfectly drained soils, conservation tillage may aggravate the existing wetness limitation. This wetness creates a more anaerobic soil environment. Crop residue mulches left at the soil surface cause slower warming of soils during the spring and has been identified as a serious problem in the Corn Belt of the United States (Griffith et al., 1977). In contrast, the surface residue mulch that may delay germination and early growth in temperate regions often becomes a positive factor in the tropics by reducing the high temperatures that adversely affect plant growth, thereby enhancing germination

R.L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

38

and growth (Lal, 1982). Conservation tillage is an important component of modern agriculture and is aimed at preserving the soil and water resource base.

11. CONSERVATION TILLAGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT The lack of soil disturbance and the presence of plant residue cover characterize conservation tillage and are primarily responsible for its environmental benefits. Ironically, these characteristics are responsible for most of the management problems that have been identified with conservation tillage in the field. Major environmental benefits of conservation tillage include decreased soil erosion; improved water quality, particularly surface water; enhanced soil quality that may result in increased soil productivity; and decreased use of fossil fuels.

A. Son.EROSION Conservation tillage decreases soil erosion almost in direct proportion to the amount of soil cover left following the tillage practice. The literature abounds with evidence of this. An excellent illustration is the research reported by Mannering and Fenster (1977) and shown in Fig. 1. Although the relationship is strong between soil cover and soil loss, there

30 (d

f

r" 20 10

0

20 o/o

40 Cover

60

80

Figure 1. Relationship between soil loss and residue cover using moldboard-plow (0). chiselplow and no-tillage).( systems. (Adapted from Mannering and Fenster, 1977.)

(v),

CONSERVATIONTILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

39

appear to be benefits from lack of disturbance per se independent of crop residue. Rasnake er al. (1986) reported soil losses of 426 kg ha-' with no-tillage soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] without a cover crop compared to 9050 kg ha-I with conventional tillage (moldboard plowing) soybeans without a cover crop. Corresponding values with a winter wheat (Triticum aestivurn L.) cover crop were 269 kg ha - I for no-tillage and 1142 kg ha - I for conventional tillage. Similar results were found with no-tillage and conventional tillage soybeans in Tennessee (Shelton and Bradley, 1987). The decreased soil erodibility associated with no-tillage appears to be caused primarily by the lack of soil disturbance and its ramifications rather than runoff, since runoff is often similar for no-tillage and conventional tillage (Blevins et al., 1990). Runoff volume is affected greatly by surface roughness as well as residue cover left by the different tillage practices (Romkens et al., 1973; Mannering et al., 1975; Lindstrom and Onstad, 1984). Soil loss, on the other hand, is determined largely by the erosivity of the rainfall and runoff and the erodibility of the soil. No-tillage decreases erodibility of the soil in comparison to conventional tillage.

B. WATERQUALITY Public concern is currently focused on the effects of agricultural practices on soil erosion and water quality. Runoff from farmland has the potential to carry large amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, and sediments into lakes and streams. The surface runoff waters may readily affect the groundwater in some landscapes such as karst regions. Much speculation has occurred in recent years about the effects of various tillage systems on water quality. Some researchers (Blevins et al., 1983a; Wendt and Burwell, 1985) suggested that conservation tillage systems create fewer environmental hazards than conventional tillage because it reduces runoff and soil erosion losses. Others have suggested that the increased infiltration resulting from reduced runoff may increase the potential for groundwater pollution with agricultural chemicals.

1. Surface Water Tillage systems affects the amount of water moving both over the surface and through the soil. Moldboard or other inversion types of plowing increase the rate at which water moves into soil over the short term. However, after several rainfall events, a crust often forms at the surface, reducing infiltration rate. Conservation tillage reduces soil losses (Blevins et al., 1990; Mostaghimi et al., 1988), but does not always reduce the volume of runoff as effectively as it reduces sediment losses.

40

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

No-tillage usually decreases soil erosion and chemical losses in comparison with conventional tillage (Angle et al., 1984; Mostaghimi et al., 1988; Blevins et al., 1990). In contrast, studies by Lindstrom and Onstad (1984) showed a higher runoff volume for no-tillage as compared to conventional tillage. Because fertilizer and herbicides are commonly applied on the soil surface in no-tillage systems, there may be a greater threat of losses of agricultural chemicals if rainfall occurs soon after application. Johnson ef al. (1979) reported that, even though concentrations of agricultural chemicals were much higher in sediments than in water components, 75 to 99% of chemical losses occurred in runoff water. Although the reduction of soil sediment losses under conservation tillage systems strongly influences total loss of chemicals into surface water, the reduced runoff volumes are the overriding factor determining the lower total chemical losses from the field. Studies were conducted in Kentucky under natural rainfall using conventional tillage, no-tillage, and chisel-plow without secondary tillage (Blevins et al., 1990) to evaluate tillage-water quality relationships. The highest runoff and sediment losses were observed for conventional tillage and no differences occurred between the no-tillage and chisel-plow systems. The ranking of these tillage systems from highest to lowest in amount of NO-3, P, and atrazine losses was conventional tillage > no tillage > chisel-plow tillage. In this study, chiselplowing across the slope without secondary tillage was as effective as no-tillage in reducing runoff and chemical losses. These findings further support the notion that a combination of surface roughness and residue left at or near the surface is an effective method of reducing chemical losses to surface water. The lower runoff volumes from no-tillage or conservation tillage methods produce lower total chemical losses, not only because soil losses are far less, but also because the amount of pesticide transported offsite is proportional to total runoff volume (Laflen et al., 1978).

2. Groundwater Quality Today, potential chemical movement from agricultural land into groundwater are a concern to our society. The agricultural community is being asked to develop management practices that minimize losses to groundwater. Most interest on nutrient contamination of groundwater is focused on nitrate; however, phosphate is not without scrutiny also. The tendency for nitrate to leach rather than being absorbed to soils is due to most soils having a net negative charge. Consequently, nitrate is repelled from the soil surface and readily leached. Although NO - 3 transport through soils has been extensively studied, research on the effect of tillage practices under field-scale conditions is seriously lacking. Work in Kentucky (Thomas et al., 1973; Tyler and Thomas, 1977)demonstrated greater NO - 3 leaching with no-tillage than with conventional tillage sys-

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

41

tems.They concluded that no-tillage enhanced the preferential leaching of NO - 3 through macropores. W. M. Edwards er al. (1992) reported that the intensity of rainfall following fertilizer or pesticide applications plays a significant role in leaching losses. A light rainfall following chemical application promotes movement into soil micropores, thus partially immobilizing the chemical for subsequent rainfall. In this scenario according to Kanwar et af. (1983, the macropores facilitate the bypassing of water-filled micropores, thus reducing the leaching of NO - 3 and other mobile compounds relative to displacement of NO -]-rich micropore water. Tyler et af. (1992), reporting on a joint field study from Tennessee and Kentucky, found a high preferential flow out of the root zone in winter and early spring when NO -3-N and herbicide concentrations were low. No-tillage appeared to reduce NO-3 leaching under corn and under soybean-wheat-corn rotation during the wheat-corn period of the rotation. Infiltration rates on the Tennessee site were relatively low with insignificant differences between no-tillage and conventional tillage. The environmental issues of pollution of natural water are a major concern in the United States where the land area under conservation tillage has dramatically increased. Consequently, the use of pesticides, especially herbicides, has also increased. Herbicide use is especially heavy for corn and soybean production regardless of the tillage system that is practiced. Although conservation tillage usually decreases surface runoff and erosion, it is known to increase leaching and subsurface movement of water in some soils and climatic zones. This potentially higher rate of infiltration and higher subsurface drainage in conservation tillage creates a situation that may result in deeper leaching of agricultural chemicals applied to the soil. The presence of large numbers of earthworm channels in no-tillage soil environments serves as passageways that conduct water (Edwards et d., 1988). Water moving through such macropores carries dissolved chemicals in aqueous phase to subsurface horizons and may pollute the groundwater. Consequently, water leaching through conservation tillage managed soils has the potential to transport more NO - 3 and pesticides than water from plowed treatments. How conservation tillage affects the movement of fertilizers and pesticides is related to other factors as well, such as time of their application in relation to time of land preparation, occurrence of rainfall, and nature of the rainfall. Highintensity rainfall often results in rapid surface losses and deep leaching by preferential flow. Volatilization of herbicides is also influenced by tillage systems that leave residues at the surface. Glotfelty (1987) reported that larger quantities of pesticides are lost by volatilization than by deep leaching or runoff. According to Wagenet (1987), leaching is the third major source of pesticide losses from the root zone. The surface soil in conservation tillage contains relatively more organic matter than that in conventional tillage. Therefore, the retention of

42

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

herbicides such as paraquat, atrazine, and metolachlor is likely to be greater. This partly offsets the effects of macropores that expedite deep leaching (Wagenet, 1987). There is substantial research that supports the conclusion that conservation tillage systems that leave substantial residues at the soil surface in conjunction with surface roughness will reduce the total losses of agricultural chemicals from a field by way of surface runoff because of both less sediment losses and lower runoff volume. How conservation tillage affects our groundwater as compared to potential pollution from conventional tillage is less clear at this time. It is difficult to determine the full effects of deep leaching with the limited research now available. This is a research area receiving high priority today with numerous in situ leaching research studies in progress.

C. SOILPRODUCTIVITY The tillage system affects soil productivity mainly through its influence on soil organic matter, soil erosion, and soil water supply. The relationships between tillage and these three soil properties are discussed elsewhere in this chapter. Here we will discuss how these soil properties affect soil productivity.

1. Soil Organic Matter Soil organic matter contains plant nutrients that are mineralized as it decomposes. What effect these nutrients might have on soil productivity is clouded by the fact that some of the plant nutrient requirements are usually supplied by commercial fertilizers and other inorganic amendments and some are supplied by soil minerals. Therefore, most farmers are not dependent on nutrients in soil organic matter to grow their crops. Certainly, increasing soil organic matter increases the nutrient-supplying capacity of the soil and decreases the need for inorganic amendments. 2. Soil Erosion

Soil productivity factors that are usually diminished by soil erosion include direct loss of soil fertility, loss of soil organic matter, deterioration of soil structure, and decreased water-supplying capacity (capacity to provide water to growing plants). The primary seat of fertility of many soils is the topsoil. Direct loss of soil fertility occurs when surface-applied fertilizers or available plant nutrients attached to soil particles are removed during runoff and erosion. Indirect loss of soil fertility occurs in the organic matter that is lost when topsoil erodes. Burwell et al. (1975) found that sediment transport accounted for more

CONSERVATIONTILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

43

than 95% of the N and P lost and most of the K lost from fallow, continuous corn, and rotational corn treatments. A classic study in Missouri (Miller and Krusekopf, 1932) showed that nutrients removed by erosion, expressed as a percentage of the amounts removed by continuous corn, were N, 55%;P, 90%; K, 605%;Ca, 550%; and Mg, 290%. A rotational cropping system of cornwheat-clover markedly decreased soil erosion and reduced nutrient losses to 22, 36, 214, 212, and 97%, respectively, of the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg removed by the crops. As these data illustrate, loss of soil organic matter by erosion causes a disproportionate loss of several nutrients. Organic matter is the most abundant indigenous source of N and some secondary nutrients and micronutrients, especially in strongly weathered soils. Generally, eroded soils have higher acidity and lime requirements than uneroded soils (Frye et al., 1982). Soil erosion often results in replacement of topsoil with more-acid subsoil, selective removal of the baseforming elements (K, Ca, and Mg) from the topsoil, and removal of applied lime before it reacts to neutralize soil acidity (Frye et al., 1985). Soil fertility and lime requirement can be corrected so readily by soil amendments that it is difficult to claim soil productivity benefit through these parameters directly from controlling soil erosion. However, the added costs of maintaining productivity with purchased amendments is an obvious disadvantage. Furthermore, substantial productivity is often sacrificed before nutrient and lime deficiencies are discovered. Deteriorating soil structure during soil erosion contributes to diminished productivity in at least two important ways-decreased infiltration and storage of available water and impaired root exploitation of the soil. Lower organic matter and higher clay contents associated with erosion make soil more susceptible to compaction. If it does not actually decrease the available water-holding capacity of the soil, compaction reduces infiltration and restricts plant root growth. Both decrease the water-supplying capacity of the soil and diminish the soil’s yield capacity. Erosion decreases the soil’s water-supplying capacity in still another way. Accelerated erosion removes soil from the surface much more rapidly than the soil profile deepens. Thus, the rooting depth rapidly decreases in soils that are shallow to a root-restricting layer such as a bedrock or hardpans (Frye et al., 1983).

3. Water-Supplying Capacity The effects of water-supplying capacity on soil productivity are highly dependent on the amount and distribution of rainfall during the growing season. The water-supplying capacity has little effect on crop yields when rainfall is abundant and well distributed, but has a profound effect during droughty seasons. Soil water is discussed more thoroughly in Section II1,C.

44

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

D. ENERGYUSE Conservation tillage, especially no-tillage, along with N fertilizer management, offers farmers one of their greatest opportunities to conserve energy in crop production. Moldboard plowing to a 20-cm depth requires an estimated 17 liters ha-' of diesel-fuel equivalents (DFE = 41 MJ per liter) of energy. In contrast, chisel-plowing to 20 cm requires 1.18 and disking requires 0.64 liters ha-l DFE (Frye, 1984). In no-tillage, of course, tillage is eliminated, and this energy is conserved. Some, but not all, of the energy conservation is offset by slightly greater need for herbicides in no-tillage. Frye (1984) assigned energy values for corn production under conventional moldboard-plow tillage, chisel-plow tillage, and no-tillage based on inputs and practices outlined by Wittmuss and Yazar (1981) for those tillage systems. These values are shown in Table I. Tillage operations used 7% of the total production energy required in the conventional plow system and 4% of that re-

Table I Energy Analysis of Corn under Three Tillage Systems in Nebraska" Tillage system Moldboard plow Operation or input Moldboard plow Chisel-plow Disk Apply herbicides Plant corn Herbicides (manufacturing) Machinery (manufacturing and repair) Fertilizer (168 kg N h a - ' ) Harvest grain Dry grain Chop stalks Production energy (total of above) Energy in grain Energy output : input ratio

Chiselplow

DFE (liters ha

Notillage ~

')

17 II

12 I 4 22

6 I 4 22

I7

15

238 15 80 7 413 2030 4.9

238 15 80 7 399 2030

22 6 238 15 80 7 374 2030

5.1

5.4

1 5

"From Frye ( 1984). 'Based on 16 Megajoule kg - I of grain and 41 Megajoule liter I of diesel fuel. Grain yields (3-year average) were approximately 5200 kg ha I for all tillage systems. ~

CONSERVATIONTILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGMENT

45

quired in the chisel-plow system. Total production energy values for chisel-plow and no-tillage, respectively, were about 97 and 91% that of the conventional system.

111. SOIL PHYSICAL, PROPERTIES For a crop production system to be widely accepted, it must maintain the soil’s physical quality. Soil physical factors that influence water infiltration and soil erodibility include organic matter content, aggregation, porosity, and density. The amount of mechanical mixing and levels of residue left on or near the soil surface directly influence these soil properties.

A. BULK DENSITY AND COMPACTION Soil physical properties and conservation tillage are influenced by surface and internal drainage, nature and amount of clay, climate, drainage, physiography, vehicular traffic, and soil and crop management systems. Because of the variation in climate and soils, it should be no surprise that contradicting data appear in the literature, particularly regarding the relationships of tillage and cropping systems to bulk density and compaction. In Kentucky, for example, we found no significant effect on bulk density after 20 yr of corn production comparing no-tillage and moldboard-plow tillage (Table 11). The surface 0 to 5 cm of the no-tillage soil had slightly lower bulk density than the surface of the moldboard-plow system. These plots were sampled in April prior to tillage. The moldboard-plow plots had reconsolidated following the tillage operations performed 11 months earlier. In contrast, Gantzer and Blake (1978) in Minnesota found significantly higher bulk densities of a clay loam soil in no-tillage than in plow tillage. A similar study on a poorly drained Haplaquoll in Minnesota reported a higher proportion of macropores in untracked zones of no-till as compared to conventionally tilled plots. Hill and Cruse (1985) reported no significant effects of tillage methods (no-tillage, plowingtillage, and minimum tillage) on bulk density of a loess-derived Iowa soil. Contradicting results have been reported also for wheel traffic impact on soil properties. Wheel traffic in no-tillage has been demonstrated in some cases to cause compaction, resulting in high bulk density and low infiltration in tracked soil zones (Voorhees, 1983). In contrast, Lindstrom et al. (1981) observed no significant effects of wheel tracks on infiltration rate in no-tillage treatment. Regardless of the ecological region, compaction and crusting are major production constraints to intensive row-crop agriculture (Lal, 1989). Some soils in

46

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE Table I1

Bulk Density of Soil after 20 Years of Continuous Conventional Tillage (CT) and No-Tillage (NT) Corn"

Bulk density Soil depth (cm) 0-5b 5-156 15-30

CT

NT

Undisturbed soil

1.27 1.27 1.47"

1.17 1.36' 1.47'

1.15 1.28 1.41

'Adapted from Ismail et al., 1993. "Sampled as single increment in CT. 'Significantly higher than value above in same column by LSD ( p < 0.05).

Africa and India in aridhemiarid regions are naturally compacted and restrict root growth. Mechanical loosening as a part of conservation tillage may be required to improve crop growth. Soil compaction is caused by wheel traffic at the soil surface and by formation of a plow-pan in subsurface layers (Lal, 1985). One strategy to deal with traffic-induced compaction is the adoption of notillage or reduced tillage (conservation tillage) methods so the number of operations with equipment is reduced. Guided traffic is another approach for dealing with compaction, in which farming operations are organized such that tractor wheels always follow the same tracks, thus reducing the volume of soil influenced by wheels. Soils susceptible to compaction occur in nearly all agroecological zones. However, upland soils in the tropics may be more susceptible to compaction than equivalent soils in the temperate zone (Lal, 1989). This is due to the antecedent low level of organic matter, lack of ameliorative effect of freezing and thawing, and predominance of low-activity clays.

B. SOILAGGREGATION AND INFILTRATION Soil aggregation involves the binding together of several soil particles into secondary units (Unger and McCalla, 1980). Soil aggregates, especially water stable aggregates, are of special importance for high water infiltration and good soil structure. These properties help determine soil quality and directly influence soil and water conservation. For soils and environments where conservation till-

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

47

age is ecologically suitable, the system usually maintains or improves the physical quality of the soils. Water-stable aggregation is often used as a measure of soil structure and is a suitable index of soil resistance to dispersion and compaction. Plant emergence, water infiltration, and soil erosion are directly influenced by aggregate stability. Results from soil aggregation studies on four Indiana soils by Mannering et al. (1975) are given in Table 111. As tillage intensity increased, soil aggregation decreased. Aggregation was highest in the 0- to 5-cm layer of notillage-treated soil. Tillage studies on silty soils in Germany (Ehlers, 1979) showed that no-tillage improved aggregate stability of surface soil under no-tillage. They attributed the improved structure to increased concentrations of organic matter in the surface, resulting in less slaking during heavy rains. Even though total porosity was increased by tillage, the macropores connecting the soil surface to the subsoil were enhanced, thus improving infiltration. Douglas and Goss (1982) found that after repeated direct seeding in Britain, aggregate stability of the topsoil was improved. Again, the improved structure was thought to be related to an increase in organic matter at the soil surface. Research on a poorly drained soil in northern Ohio (La1 et al., 1989) showed that median aggregate size tended to be higher (about 22%) for no-tillage treatments than for plow-till treatments. They concluded that higher organic matter content and lack of mechanical soil disturbance in no-tillage may be responsible for relatively higher percentage aggregation, larger median aggregate size, and more kinetic energy required to disrupt aggregates as compared to plow-tillage treatments. Generally, much of the observed improvements in soil structure observed in conservation tillage are attributed to high biotic activity, especially earthworm

Table Ill

Effect of Tillage on Soil Aggregation of Four Indiana Soils after 5 Years" Aggregate index 0- to 5-cm depth

5- to 15-cm

Tillage system Moldboard plow Chisel-plow Till-plow No-tillage

0.35

0.47

0.46 0.47 0.77

0.56 0.70

"Adapted from Mannering er al. (1975).

depth 0.56

48

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

activity. Earthworms flourish in a no-tillage or residue-managed system. Ehlers (1975) attributed the higher infiltration rate of loess soil in Germany to the greater number of worm channels and to their continuity, which was better in notilled soil than in plowed soil. Edwards et d . (1988) concluded that no-tillage effectively preserve the macropores during the intercrop period, whereas tillage disrupts many of them.

C. SOILWATER The capacity of a soil to supply water to plants during periods of water stress (i.e., its water-supplying capacity) is determined by the soil’s available waterholding capacity, infiltration and percolation rates, evaporation rate, effective rooting depth, position on the landscape, and depth to the water table (if within the rooting zone). Of these, tillage can significantly affect infiltration and evaporation in essentially all soils and affect available water-holding capacity and effective rooting in some soils.

I. Infiltration Tillage loosens soil, creating large openings that water can move into rapidly. It also leaves the surface rough with many microbasins that retain water on the soil surface, allowing more time for infiltration before runoff occurs (Blevins et al., 1990). Thus, a recently tilled soil has higher infiltration rate than the same soil that has not been tilled recently. However, in the case of moldboard plowing, the enhanced infiltration may be relatively short-lived. Rainfall may cause a crust to form at the surface and that crust reduces the infiltration rate. Infiltration rates with chisel-plow tillage and no-tillage are more likely to be sustained throughout the growing season, thereby enhancing the water-supplying capacity. Two major factors contributing to the sustained infiltration rates with conservation tillage are improved soil aggregate stability mentioned earlier and the effects of plant residue cover. The plant residues left on the soil surface with conservation tillage protect the soil from raindrop impact, thereby preventing crusting. They also slow the flow of surface runoff, permitting greater infiltration. Tillage systems, then, affect the amount of water moving both over the surface and into and through the soil. That is largely why the tillage system has such a great influence on soil erosion and water-supplying capacity. It also has implications in leaching and potential groundwater contamination as discussed in Section II,B above.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

49

2. Evaporation The plant residues left on the soil surface slow the rate of water evaporation under conservation tillage relative to conventional tillage. Plant residues shade the soil from solar radiation, insulate the soil from heat in the air, and impede movement of water vapor from soil to air, thus developing high humidity and permitting condensation within the residue mulch (Bond and Willis, 1969; Phillips, 1984). The mulch slows the rate of evaporation but does not change the amount of water that can ultimately be removed from the soil. Therefore, the mulch provides protection against short-term but not long-term droughts. According to Bond and Willis (1969), the protection lasts 7 to 14 days. It is most effective during the early part of the growing season when evaporation rather than transpiration is the primary avenue of water loss from the soil. Utomo (1986) found that the effect of a mulch from a killed hairy vetch (Vicia viffosa Roth) cover crop on soil water in the 0- to 15-cm depth was apparent virtually throughout the entire 1985 corn growing season (Table IV). Clearly, no-tillage was superior to conventional tillage (Table V). Part of that effect may have arisen from enhanced infiltration, resulting in more water in the soil. When fertility, particularly N, is adequate, the improved soil water status usually results in higher crop yields for no-tillage than for conventional tillage (Phillips et al., 1980; Frye er al., 1988). Below optimum N levels, however, Table IV Gravimetric Soil Water at 0- to 15-cm Soil Depth in 1985 as Affected by Hairy Vetch Cover Crop with No-Tillage Corn Soil water (kg kg-') Sampling date

Fallow

14 May 31 May 14 June 20 June 27 June 8 July 20 July 5 Sept.

0.23 0.27 0.28 0.23 0.22 0.21 0.15

0.20

Hairy vetch

0.21 0.27 NSd 0.27 NS 0.28 0.27' 0.26' 0.19b 0.23 NS

"Adapted from Utomo (1986). "Significantly higher at 5% level. Significantly higher at 10% level for that date. "NS, not significantly different.

50

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE Table V Gravimetric Soil Water at 0- to 15-em Soil Depth in 1985 under Conventional Tillage and No-Tillage Corn with Hairy Vetch Cover Crop" Soil water (kg kg - I ) Sampling date

Conv. tillage

14 May 31 May 14 June 20 June 27 June 8 July 20 July 5 Sept.

0.20 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.19 0.18 0.13 0.18

No-tillage

0.21 NS" 0.27' 0.27E 0.28' 0.27' 0.26' 0.19' 0.23'

OAdapted from Utomo (1986). "NS, not significantly different ( p > 0.05). 'Significantly greater ( p < 0.05).

conventional tillage usually outyields no-tillage because the plowing speeds up N mineralization from soil organic matter.

D. SOILTEMPERATURE Colder soil temperature in the early spring can be a serious drawback to the adoption of conservation tillage. The less the soil disturbance, the more residue that is left on the surface and the colder the soil in the spring. Of course, the greatest soil temperature problem is likely to be with no-tillage. The problem occurs mostly with early planted crops when the soil is still cold. The few degrees colder temperature under conservation tillage can make a profound difference in seed germination and plant growth. A common observation is conventional tillage corn, for example, emerging sooner and growing more vigorously than no-tillage corn early in the season (Phillips, 1984). Later in the season, the lower soil temperature turns beneficial, especially as it affects water-supplying capacity. Moody et al. (1963) in Virginia found that soil water in the 0- to 46-cm depth averaged 2.1 cm more under 6.8 Mg ha-' of straw mulch than in a bare soil. Maximum soil temperatures were 1.0 to 3.0"C cooler under the mulch in May and 3.2 to 3.8"C cooler in June. Corn yields averaged for the 3 yr of the study were 4.15 Mg ha-' for bare soil and 7.02 Mg ha-l for the mulched soil, a clear benefit from the additional soil water. The additional soil water is, of course, only partly attributable to lower soil temperature.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

51

Another advantage of cooler soil later in the season is the slower rate of organic matter decomposition (Utomo, 1986). With slower decomposition, the mulch remains effective longer, and soil organic matter content increases with time. Utomo (1986) measured soil temperatures at 5-cm depth daily from corn planting to 1 mo. later. His measurements, averaged weekly, are shown in Table VI. Differences between conventional tillage and no-tillage ranged from 1.5 to 4.9"C cooler under no-tillage without a cover crop (corn residue only), 1.7 to 5.5"C cooler for no-tillage under a killed hairy vetch mulch, and 1.9 to 3.9"C cooler for no-tillage with a mulch from a rye (Secule cereale L.) cover crop. Differences between no-tillage and conventional tillage grew larger with time. Utomo's measurements were made between the rows, thus under plant residues in no-tillage and bare soil in conventional tillage. When readings were taken in the row of no-tillage directly in the slit made by the no-tillage planter, the temperature values were about halfway between values from between the rows of no-tillage and values from conventional tillage. Thus, Utomo (1986) concluded that the temperature of the environment of the seeds and seedlings in notillage was not as different from that in conventional tillage as had previously been thought based on between-the-row measurements. A number of techniques have been developed to ameliorate the early-season soil temperature problem in no-tillage. Most of these techniques involve removing or redistributing some of the plant residue to permit radiation energy to reach the soil and facilitate drying and warming. Munawar er ul. (1 990) experimented with early-killed versus late-killed rye

Table VI Weekly Averages of Daily Maximum Temperatures at 5-cm Depth in 1985 Soil temperature ("C) Corn residue

CT

Date _

_

~

5/23-5126 5121-612 613 - 619 6/10-6/16

6/11-6123

_

_

22.1 21.3 21.1 21.3 30.4

NT* ~

Hairy vetch

Rye

CT

NT

CT

NT

23.2 28.9 28.3 26.1 29.7

21.5 NS 23.4d 24.9d 24.1 NS 25.9

23.8 28.4 27.8 25.6 28.7

21.9 NS 25.9d 25.gd 24.5 NS 24.gd

~

21.2 NS' 23.1d 24.1d 24.5 NS 25.5d

"Adapted from Utomo (1986). bCT, conventional tillage; NT, no-tillage. 'NS. no significant difference between CT and NT. dSignificant difference ( p < 0.05) between CT and NT on a particular date.

52

R.L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

cover crop as a means of reducing the amount of mulch and permitting earlier warm-up of the soil. Early kill (killed with herbicides 3 wk before corn planting) resulted in 1 to 2°C higher maximum daily soil temperatures at 5 cm than late kill (killed at corn planting on May 14). By late June, the soil temperatures were essentially the same for the two treatments. They concluded that early killing of the rye had no significant effect on soil temperature. Soil water was generally greater in the early-kill treatment, which would tend to suppress the temperature differences between early-killed and late-killed rye. Row cleaners are designed to attach to no-tillage planters and remove the plant residue from the rows as the crop is planted. Some row cleaners also till a narrow band of soil, In Kentucky, Murdock et al. (1992) used row cleaners to remove residue from a 25-cm strip into which corn was planted no-tillage. Soil temperatures were 0.5 to 1.7"C warmer where row cleaners were used, but corn yields were about the same as for no-tillage without row cleaners and for conventional tillage. These efforts are probably more beneficial on soils that tend to be wet and cold at corn planting time, for example, moderately well or somewhat poorly drained soils, soils with fine-textured A, horizons, and soils farther north. Efforts to warm up the soil earlier are generally effective in raising the soil temperature by a small amount; however, in the end, they seem to make little or no difference in yield, at least not under Kentucky's climatic conditions. That is consistent with observations that no-tillage crops overcome the early season setback and overtake or surpass conventional tillage crops as the season progresses. It is consistent also with the earlier statement that cooler soil temperature becomes an asset as the season progresses.

IV. SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES Long-term effects of tillage on soil chemical properties are of concern to farmers, agronomists, and environmentalists. No-tillage creates a different soil environment and management needs from the plow-tillage. First, in no-tillage there is no mixing of soil amendments. Since most fertilizers, lime, herbicides, and other chemicals are applied to the soil surface, one would expect a change in soil profile distribution because of their concentrations at the soil surface. Also, in conservation tillage systems that maintain residues at the soil surface, the mulch changes the evaporation rate of water from the soil surface. The higher soil water near the soil surface enhances root growth and diffusion of nutrients in this zone where fertilizers were applied. In a continuous no-tillage system, distribution of nonmobile ions will be far from uniform. The surface application of fertilizer may result in more losses of N by ammonia volatilization and more loss of nutrients in surface runoff than

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

53

when fertilizers are incorporated annually by plowing under. Plowing under the previous year's crop residue results in more uniform distribution in the plowed layer.

A. S O I L ~ H Numerous studies conducted in temperate climate zones show that no-tillage results in the acidification of the surface layer when continued for several years (3 to 5 ) . Findings from a classic long-term tillage study in Ohio on Wooster silt loam (Typic Fragiudalf) indicated significant acidification of the surface 0 to 7.5 cm under no-tillage (Dick, 1983; Dick et al., 1986). Moschler et al. (1973) also reported increased acidification of the surface layer under no-till. In Kentucky, Blevins et af. (1977) observed that soil pH was lower with no-till than plowtill. The rapid acidification of surface soil under no-tillage is more prevalent in the eastern portion of the United States, where there is usually an excess of rainfall over evapotranspiration for part of the year. The accelerated acidification related to no-tillage has been attributed in part to decomposition of the concentrated layer of organic residues at the surface with subsequent leaching of resultant organic acids into mineral soil, mineralization and subsequent nitrification of organic nitrogen, and losses of basic cations such as Ca and Mg by leaching. However, the major source of acidification in no-tillage corn production is the nitrification of NH,' from acid-forming N fertilizer applied to the soil surface. Soil pH changes after 10 yr no-tillage and conventional tillage corn production in Kentucky are shown in Table VII. These data illustrate the principle that increased increments of acid-forming N fertilizer are strongly correlated with the lowering of soil pH and that no-tillage results in a greater acidification of the surface soil horizon, particularly the 0 to 5 cm. As soil pH declines, a decrease in exchangeable Ca and an increase in exchangeable A1 and Mn can be expected (Blevins ef af.,1983b). In this study, soil pH declined rapidly during the first 5 yr without a significant influence on corn yields. However, between 5 and 10 yr, exchangeable Al more than doubled and crop yields were significantly reduced on unlimed treatments. The decrease in soil pH associated with no-tillage described here does not happen in all ecological regions. In contrast, Alfisols in southwestern Nigeria have shown lower rates of acidification in no-till than in plow-tillage systems (Lal, 1989). How conservation tillage influences soil pH will vary with the system employed. Use of mulch tillage and other systems intermediate to no-tillage versus moldboard plow-tillage will be affected differently. The degree and depth of mixing of soil will influence whether or not an acid surface layer develops. Systems where crop rotations are used and the amount of acid-forming fertilizers is reduced generally retard acidification.

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

54

Table VII

Effects of 10 Years of Continuous No-Tillage (NT) and Conventional Tillage (CT) Corn on Soil pH of Maury Soil in Kentucky“ Soil pH Unlimed

Limed

Depth (cm)

N rate (kg ha-’)

NT

CT

NT

CT

0-5

0 168 0 I68 0 168

5.8 4.8 6.0 5.6 6.2 6.2

6.4 5.8 6.4 5.9 6.6 6.2

7.3 7.0 6.9 6.6 6.6 6.6

6.9 6.6 7.0 6.6 7.0 6.8

5- I5

15-30

“Adapted from Blevins er 01. (1983b).

It is encouraging that the acidification problem occurs in a thin layer at the soil surface so neutralization is made easier. Application of agricultural lime to the soil surface can ameliorate the problem, as shown in Table VII. The no-tillage treatments receiving periodic lime applications have surface (0-5 cm) pH values greater than those under conventional tillage where the lime gets mixed throughout the upper 0- to 15-cm zone each year during tillage operations.

B. DISTRIBUTION OF NUTRIENTS IN THE SOIL The undisturbed soil in a no-tillage system tends to accumulate the relatively immobile ions at the soil surface. Phosphate and potassium can be expected to concentrate at the surface when fertilizers containing these ions are added regularly. Calcium and Mg introduced as liming materials move to deeper layers (Table VIII), but very slowly compared with mobile ions such as nitrates. Tracy et al. (1990) determined that no-tillage wheat research plots after 16 yr accumulated greater NO,-N, SO,-S, and PO,-P in the 0- to 2.5-cm soil depth than plowed plots. Mineralization of organic N, P, and S can be a major source of plant-available nutrients near the surface of no-tilled soils. The presence of higher levels of Mehlich extractable P (Table VIII) is a common phenomenon observed in no-tillage soils. Because of the high inherent level of P in Maury soils in Kentucky, P fertilizer was not applied during the study. The higher P in the 0- to 5-cm layer of no-tillage is attributed to greater storage and cycling of P in organic matter of no-tilled than conventional tilled soils

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

55

Table VIII Mehlich Extractable P and Exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg at Three Soil Depths as Affected by Tillage and N-rate after 20 Years of Continuous Corn Production" Mehlich Ext. P (mg kg-l)

Exch. K (mg kg-')

N rate (kgha-')

CT'

NT"

CT

0 168

I08 I06

150 134

215 224

0 168

I06 101

80 76

140 141

0

I09 I17

95 102

100

I68

89

NT

Exch. Ca (mg kg-')

Exch. Mg (mg kg-l)

CT

NT

CT

NT

0-5 cm 340 26 1

1073 909

1304 1184

175 154

221 226

5-15 cm 129 117

1094 998

1051 974

I78 187

140 136

15-30 cm 81 78

1032 966

923 933

146 159

85 91

'Adapted from Ismail el al., 1993. *CT,conventional tillage (moldboard plowing and disking). CNT,no-tillage.

(Ismail et al., 1993). Also, the solubility of P is known to be enhanced by the presence of organic matter as in the case of no-till. Again, data from Kentucky showed that exchangeable K was not significantly affected by N rates (Table VIII); however, it was greater in the 0- to 5-cm depth of no-tilled than conventional tilled soils. Without mechanical mixing, K continually accumulated near the surface of no-tillage plots, whereas conventional tillage resulted in mixing of K in the surface 20- to 25-cm depth depending on the depth of plowing. Exchangeable Ca and Mg were strongly influenced by fertilizer rates, decreasing with increasing N fertilizer (Table VIII). The Ca and Mg that had accumulated in the surface 0- to 5-cm after 20 yr was probably resulted from lime applications made after 1980. In contrast, unlimed plots (Table IX) after 10 yr had lower Ca and Mg in the 0- to 5-cm layer of no-tillage plots. Below 5 cm, extractable P and exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K were higher for conventionally tilled treatments. The surface layer of long-term no-tilled soils is characterized by higher organic matter and organic N, which can be a valuable N source. Mineralization of organic N in this zone can make significant contributions to nutrition of crops grown on these soils. The availability and N transformations associated with this zone are discussed in detail in Section VI.

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

56

Table IX

Effects of 10 Years of Continuous No-Tillage (NT) and Conventional Tillage (CT) with Corn on Exchangeable Ca,

Mg, and K of Maury Silt Loam Soil in Kentucky'

Mg (cmol, kg - I )

(cmol, kg ')

NT

CT

NT

CT

NT

CT

5.48 2.61 5.96 4.74 6.61 6.10

7.84 6.13 7.48 6.19 7.49 6.91

0.33 0.47 0.62 0.55 0.58 0.54

0.70 0.59 0.72 0.55 0.71 0.63

0.68 0.44 0.34 0.21 0.21 0.20

0.39 0.34 0.43 0.37 0.29 0.21

Ca

Depth (cm)

N rate (kg ha-')

0-5

0 168 0 168 0 168

5- 15 15-30

K

(cmol, kg - I )

~

"From Blevins et al. (1983a).

C. SOILORGANIC MATTER When conservation tillage and conventional tillage are compared under similar conditions, conservation tillage, especially no-tillage, results in soils having higher soil organic matter contents after a few years. That is not to say that conservation tillage always increases the soil organic matter content of soil or that conventional tillage always decreases it. If the soil organic matter content is high (e.g., long-term grass-legume sod) at the start of the comparison, it may decrease under both tillage systems, but it is likely to decrease faster and to a lower level under conventional tillage. If, on the other hand, the comparison is made on a soil that is initially low in soil organic matter, the organic matter content will usually increase with conservation tillage, but remain fairly constant, or perhaps decrease further, with conventional tillage (Frye et al., 1985). Because there is less soil disturbance with conservation tillage than with conventional tillage, plant residues, fertilizers, and other soil amendments do not get mixed into the soil as much and plant roots tend to proliferate in the top few centimeters. Furthermore, this surface layer is usually wetter, cooler, less oxidative, and more acid (Blevins et al., 1977; Doran, 1980; Rice et al., 1086). These conditions tend to cause the organic matter content to increase or to decrease at a slower rate compared to under conventional tillage. By comparison, conventional tillage increases aeration, mixes plant residues into the soil where they decompose faster, and exposes previously protected soil organic matter. These conditions tend to speed up organic matter decomposition. Additionally, soil erosion may be increased by conventional tillage, removing

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

57

Figure 2. Organic C content to 30-cm depth in Maury soil under conventional tillage (CT), notillage (NT), and bluegrass sod in 1975, 1980, and 1989. (From Ismail er d.,1993.)

soil organic matter at an accelerated rate because the organic matter is concentrated in the eroding topsoil. In the long-term (23-year) conventional tillageho-tillage experiment in Kentucky mentioned above, we determined the soil organic matter content after 5, 10, and 20 yr (1975, 1980, and 1989). Figure 2 shows the organic C content in the top 30 cm of soil under conventional tillage and no-tillage in comparison to adjacent plots that remained in bluegrass (Pou prutensis L.) sod. Clearly, the organic matter content decreased with both tillage systems during the first 5 yr out of sod, but no-tillage did not decrease as much as conventional tillage. Both remained stable during the next 5 yr. From 1980 through 1989, the organic matter under both tillage systems returned to about its initial level, the same level as in bluegrass sod. These data are consistent with the theoretical considerations discussed earlier and are corroborated by the work of others. They further suggest that soil organic matter can be maintained or increased at a high level with conservation tillage and a cover crop annually; in this case, it was rye.

V. SURFACE MULCH MANAGEMENT Crop residues are valuable resources that can be used as an important agricultural tool to conserve soil and water, improve the physical properties of soils,

58

R.L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

improve the quality of water running off agricultural fields, and, in some cases, increase soil fertility. Crop residues are also useful for nonagricultural purposes, such as energy sources, industrial materials, and environmental protection. In the tropics, there is increasing competition for use of crop residues for livestock feed, fencing, roofing, and household fuel (Lal, 1989). Residue management currently involves several approaches, including harvesting as hay or haylage or use by grazing animals. Straw from small grains is commonly baled and sold for bedding. In the semiarid tropics, most of the straw or stover is removed and used for purposes other than a surface soil mulch. In some farming systems in Europe and the southeastern United States, the residue is often burned before establishing the next crop. Plowing under as a green manure crop and chemically burning down any live vegetation before planting the next crop are other approaches commonly used. Considerable technological progress has been made during the past two decades in developing equipment and farming systems that allow more crop residues to remain on the soil surface. In the United States, there is an additional urgency for farmers to use better management strategies in response to the conservation compliance provision of the 1985 Food Security Act.

A. BENEFITSFROM CROP RESIDUES Numerous researchers have documented the dramatic reductions in soil erosion on cropland that can be obtained by leaving portions of the residue from previous crops on the surface of a field (discussed in Section 11). Judicious use of crop residues is the best means of controlling both water and wind erosion in both tropical and temperate regions (Lal, 1989). In the tropics, the benefits from crop residues include water conservation and amelioration of the negative effect of high soil temperatures. On well-drained soils of temperate regions, the utilization of crop residues in conjunction with conservation tillage significantly reduces soil erosion, results in equal or higher crop yields, conserves soil water, reduces labor requirements, conserves nutrients through recycling, improves biological activity, and allows farmers to maintain or improve the productivity of the soil. Advantages for using crop residues as surface mulch are similar over a wide range of soils and climatic zones. For example, use of a mulch resulted in a significant yield increase of maize in the eastern Amazon region (Schoningh and Alkamper, 1985), and under much drier conditions in Texas, significant benefits of mulch on water conservation and grain yields of sorghum were observed (Unger, 1978). Conservation tillage systems utilizing crop residue as a surface mulch are less beneficial to crop yield in regions of high rainfall than in zones of lesser rainfall.

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

59

Under certain soil and climatic conditions, yields may be reduced by no-tillage. These areas include soils with slow drainage and northern latitudes that result in slower warming of the soil in spring. Under these conditions yields are often lower for tillage systems that leave residues at the surface as compared to plowing under residues. Even though the cropping/tillage systems that leave residues at or near the surface have been extremely successful, they cannot be used for all soils, crops, and climates. In arid regions, mulch material is not always available in sufficient quantity to effectively control wind erosion and to reduce excessive evaporation losses from the soil surface. It is important to determine the amount of mulch required for different soils and climates in order to select which conservation tillage system is most appropriate for a given environment.

€3. EFFECTS OF TILLAGE ON RESIDUE COVER Choice of tillage method is crucial in managing crop residues. Residue management may be approached by looking at the phases involved. Factors to consider are (1) the quantity and kind of crop residue left on the soil immediately after harvest of the crop; (2) the amount of over-winter reductions of remaining crop residue; (3) soil- or residue-disturbing operations such as removal, chopping, or shredding; and (4)use of tillage equipment that mixes and incorporates residues. These factors determine the amount of residue cover remaining for the next year’s crop. Also, some crops leave fairly sparse levels of residue following harvest. For example, soybean, cotton, and many vegetable crops leave low residue levels as compared to high-yielding wheat or corn. To maintain at least 30% mulch cover at the time of planting the next crop may require no or limited tillage following soybean production. Small grain and corn crops produce residues that decompose more slowly than legume crops. Whether the remaining crop residues are left partially standing, shredded and uniformly distributed on the soil surface, or partially incorporated influences its decomposition rate. Rice (1983) concluded that placement of corn stalk residues had more influence than tillage on decomposition. Residues buried to a depth of 15 cm decomposed twice as fast as residues left at the surface. Wilson and Hargrove (1986) showed that the rate of N disappearance from crimson clover (Trifulium incurnuturn L.) residue was more rapid under conventional tillage than no-tillage. Studies in Kentucky where corn stover was left on the plots and a rye small grain cover crop was seeded in the fall following corn harvest show 95 to 98% cover at planting time for the following year’s crop under no-tillage and 40 to 60% ground cover where spring tillage included either chisel-plowing with straight points or disking with a tandem disk to prepare the soil for planting

60

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

Tillage method

Figure 3. Percentage of surface covered by residue 3 week after corn was planted at Lexington, Ky. Residue include residue from previous corn crop and a rye winter cover crop. CT, conventional tillage; DT, disk tillage; CH, chisel-plow tillage; and NT, no-tillage.

(Fig. 3). Less than 3% residue remained after moldboard plowing and two diskings. Griffith et al. (1986) presented excellent data showing how different tillage equipment and the number of passes affected residue cover remaining after planting (Table X). These values are lower than those reported in Fig. 3, but the Kentucky data included a rye winter annual cover crop in addition to corn stover from previous years. The data in Table X indicate that, under the soils and climate of the Corn Belt, chisel-plowingfollowed by disking does not leave enough cover to meet the minimum standard of 30% cover at planting to qualify as conservation tillage. Shallow disking (one pass) left 40% cover following corn production and 45% following small grain, but only 20% after soybean. The challenge in surface mulch management is to conduct tillage operations while maintaining surface cover. This may require no-tillage in some situations. Chisel-plows have been used extensively in the Great Plains for many years. They provide shallow primary tillage without inverting the soil. As use of chiselplows moved into higher-rainfall areas, they were modified to till deeper and to accommodate higher amounts of residue (Johnson, 1991). Delaying chiseling until spring rather than employment at fall tillage allows farmers to maintain more soil cover during the winter and spring. Sweeps are the most common ground-engaging tools. Use of sweeps often results in 5 to 15% more cover than twisted shanks on the chisel-plow that partially invert the soil (Johnson, 1991). Field cultivators work better when multiple passes are required. They have the ability to move some of the mulch buried by previous tillage passes back to the

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

61

Table X Residue Cover Remaining afler Planting for Typical Tillage versus Previous Crop Combinations" Previous crop Corn Tillage system Moldboard plow, disk, field cultivate Chisel ( 10-cm twisted points) disk twice Chisel (5-cm straight points) disk twice Primary tillage disk (deeper than 10 cm) disk twice (standard tandem) disk once, field cultivate once Shallow disking (less than 10 cm) once (standard tandem) twice (standard tandem) Till-plant in ridge In-row subsoil, plant No-tillage plant

+ +

+ +

Soybeans Grain

Sod

% Surface cover

5

2

5

10

15

2

10

20

20

5

15

25

10

5

15

20

20

10

20

-

40

20

45

50

20 30 70

10

25 -

30 -

50

80

60

90

85 95

80

20

"From Griffith er al. (1986).

surface. Disking cuts mulch material into smaller pieces and buries more of it with each subsequent pass across the field.

C. GROWING COVERCROPSFOR MULCHAND NITROGEN The most effective way to ensure a mulch cover for conservation tillage is to grow a winter cover crop. Cover crops may be leguminous or nonleguminous, depending on their purpose. Generally, nonleguminous crops, that is, mostly small grains, are easier and less costly to grow than legumes. However, legumes have the advantage of providing both mulch and N to the system. 1. Adaptability of Cover Crops

After determining the purpose of a cover crop, selecting the cover crop is the first and most important management decision. The cover crop must be well

62

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

adapted to the climate and management conditions. Small grains that are most commonly used are rye, wheat, oat (Avena sativa L.), and barley (Hordeum vufgare L.). Annual forage grasses are sometimes used as cover crops also. Hairy vetch and crimson clover are the legumes that seem best suited as cover crops in the middle and southeastern two-thirds of the United States. Hairy vetch is more winter hardy and has performed well in experiments in Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Nebraska (Frye et al., 1988). A growing number of states are being added to that list as research progresses. Crimson clover appears to perform better than hairy vetch under more southern climatic conditions (Touchton et a f . , 1982; Hargrove, 1986). Many other crops, both leguminous and nonleguminous, may be adaptable for various areas as cover crops for conservation tillage (USDAKSRS Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, 1992). 2. Seeding Cover Crops

Seeding is the main cost of growing a cover crop, and an adequate stand that survives the winter is, of course, essential to the effectiveness of the cover crop. Several planting methods have been successful. Aerial interseeding by surface broadcast into a standing summer crop (e.g., corn, sorghum, soybean) just before the beginning of leaf-drop is one of the most successful methods used in Kentucky. Adequate plant residues from leaf-drop or previous crops to cover the seed and adequate soil water or rainfall for germination and seedling growth are crucial elements to the success of this method. A no-tillage drill places the seed into the soil, where the environment is more favorable for germination than on the surface, but it has the disadvantage of delaying planting of the cover crop until after the summer crop is harvested. This decreases the effectiveness of the cover crop and may make it more susceptible to winterkill. On the basis of work in Kentucky, we believe that earlier planting date is a more important factor than seed placement. We compared no-tillage drilling after corn harvest with aerial interseeding 3 wk before corn harvest (Frye et al., 1988) (Table XI). Brown et a f . (1985) did a similar study with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Alabama. Both methods were successful in establishing a cover crop stand, but the earlier planting was superior in both dry matter and N production. Differences in Alabama were even more dramatic than in Kentucky (Table XI). Other successful seeding methods include techniques such as seeding behind the last cultivation of the corn (Nanni and Baldwin, 1987) and broadcast seeding after corn grain harvest and disking lightly or shredding stalks to ensure seed cover. In Kentucky, we drilled hairy vetch and crimson clover into wheat stubble in late July with great success. Dry matter and N production before freezing-

CONSERVATIONTILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

63

Table XI Effect of Planting Method on Dry Matter Yield and N Production of Cover Crops' Dry matter yield

IS b Cover crop

D" Mg ha

~

Nitrogen content IS

D kg ha-'

I

Hairy vetch Bigflower vetch Rye

3.16 2.74 2.31

Kentucky 3.06 I33 2.31 98 2.14 21

Hairy vetch Crimson clover Rye

2.96 4.38 2.84

Alabama I .83 133 1.33 133 I .90 27

104

85 19 75

44 21

"Adapted from Frye era/. (1988). blS. interseeded early September before harvest in Kentucky and approximately September 25 before cotton defoliation in Alabama. 'D, drilled after crops harvested-mid-October in Kentucky and early November in Alabama.

down of the plants about November 1 are shown in Table XI1 (unpublished data). The crops were winter-killed completely, leaving an excellent mulch cover in which to plant no-tillage corn the next April, one month earlier than normal for

Table XI1 Fall Production of Dry Matter and Nitrogen from Hairy Vetch and Crimson Clover Planted Late July into Wheat Stubble at Lexington, Kentucky' Dry matter (kg ha - I )

Nitrogen (kg ha-')

Date sampled

H. vetch

C. clover

H. vetch

C. clover

I Nov. 1990 19Oct. 1991

3493 6105

3353 5863

122 195

114 188

"Unpublished data.

64

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

planting into a legume cover crop. Grain yields without N fertilizer averaged 8.1 and 9.1 Mg ha-l with hairy vetch and crimson clover, respectively, in 1991, and 11.6 and 10.9 Mg ha-', respectively, in 1992.

3. Self-Reseeding Cover Crops Perpetuating an annual legume cover crop by a self-reseeding technique seems to be a very practical way of providing a legume cover crop in conservation tillage. There are disadvantages, however, that should be considered. Crimson clover and bigflower vetch (Vicia grundiJora var. Kitaibeliunu W. Koch) are particularly well adapted to such management (Frye et al., 1988). The most obvious advantage of this practice is to eliminate the need to plant a cover crop each fall, thus saving the high cost of annual seeding. The disadvantages include the need to either delay planting the crop or to spray strips with herbicides, first over the rows at planting, then between the rows after seed maturity. Thus shielded spraying is required. A stand of bigflower vetch has been maintained in this way for about 10 yr in experimental plots in Kentucky. Our experience, however, indicates that the legume stand slowly loses its vigor because of what we believe is loss of inoculation with an effective Rhizobium species.

4. Killing the Cover Crop Where the cover crop is used to provide mulch for conservation tillage, it is necessary to kill it with herbicides to prevent it from competing with the summer crop. We know of no research supporting the practicality of growing summer row crops in a living mulch for a sustained period of time. A number of different herbicides are used in conservation tillage, and the only special requirement that a cover crop imposes is a bum-down herbicide in the mixture, such as glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine]or paraquat (l,l-dimethyl-4,4-bipyridinium ion). Where a triazine-sensitive legume is to be established in the fall for a cover crop, cyanazine (2- [ [4-chloro-6-(ethylaminso)-1,3,5-triazin-2-y1] amino] -2-methylpropaneitrile) is often substituted for at least part (usually one-half to all) of the atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine]. Farmers have reported complete success using 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid to kill the legume cover crop in the spring (Illinois Sustainable Agricultural Network, personal communication, 1992). Droughty conditions during the spring may result in excessive depletion of the soil water by a cover crop (Utomo et a f . . 1986). An easy way to lessen this problem is to kill the cover crop earlier in the spring, usually 2 to 3 wk before

CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN SOIL MANAGEMENT

65

planting the summer crop. Early killing may conserve soil water and help facilitate soil warm-up, as discussed earlier, but considerable dry matter yield and N production (if a legume) may be sacrificed. In North Carolina, Wagger (1987) found that hairy vetch produced about 2.00 Mg ha-l dry matter with 58 kg N ha-' during about 2 wk, from the third week of April to the first week of May. Corresponding values for crimson clover were 1.57 Mg ha-' dry matter with 26 kg N ha - I . So, the decision to kill early or at planting time should be dictated by weather conditions and stage of development of the cover crop. If dry weather appears imminent, early killing would be advisable. Conversely, during a wet spring, the cover crop can help dry the soil for earlier planting. When a cover crop passes a certain optimum stage of maturity, it rapidly loses value as a mulch and N source. We have observed this problem in crimson clover.

VI. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT A. EFFICIENTUSEOF NITROGEN One of the most crucial aspects of conservation tillage is N management. The lack of tillage profoundly affects the soil environment as it relates to N transformations. As tillage is decreased, the soil tends to be wetter, cooler, less aerated, less oxidative, and more acid (Blevins et al., 1977; Doran, 1980). Organic matter decomposition slows, thus decreasing nutrient mineralization rate. This is more important in the case of N than for most other nutrients. Also, other N transformations that are 0,-dependent are greatly affected, for example, nitrification, dinitrification, and immobilization. As pointed out by Doran (1980), the microbial biomass is greater under notillage than conventional tillage ( I .58 times greater in the 0- to 7.5-cm depth), but the population is more anaerobic under no-tillage. The expected result of such conditions would be slower mineralization and nitrification and greater immobilization and denitrification. Generally, that is what has been found by several researchers (Doran, 1980; Rice and Smith, 1982, 1984). There are a number of practical implications associated with these conditions. Indigenous and added organic matter decompose more slowly. Soil organic matter tends to increase, as mentioned earlier. Slower decomposition may result in more favorable timing of the release of N from a legume cover crop in conservation tillage (Peterson and Power, 1991), causing the legume to be, in effect, a slow-release N source. Applied fertilizer N is likely to be immobilized to a greater extent under conservation tillage. This could cause a temporary deficiency in the crop,

66

R. L. BLEVINS AND W. W. FRYE

but it may immobilize NO - 3 that might otherwise leach to the ground water (Peterson and Power, 1991). N tends to remain in the NH+4 form longer before being converted to NO-3.

N is more likely to be lost by denitrification, especially in fine-textured soils or when the soil is wet from extended rainfall.

B. MANAGEMENT OF FERTILIZERS Differences in fertilizer management in conservation tillage and in conventional tillage can generally be traced to the lack of soil disturbance and the vegetative mulch cover.

1. Nutrient Distribution in Soil In modem agriculture, most solid and liquid fertilizers are surface-applied. Additionally, nutrient cycling brings nutrients to the soil surface. Conventional tillage with moldboard plowing mixes the surface 15 to 25 cm of soil, whereas conservation tillage mixes much less to essentially none. Thus, fertilizer nutrients and nutrients in organic matter get mixed into the soil annually under conventional tillage but tend to accumulate near the soil surface under conservation tillage. In the latter case, the mixing process is dependent largely on natural mixing forces, such as freezing and thawing, earthworms, and other natural forces of disturbance. Clearly, our results in Kentucky after 20 yr of no-tillage and conventional tillage illustrate these principles (Table VIII). Soil-test P, K, Ca, and Mg are all higher in the 0- to 5-cm depth of no-tillage soil than in the conventional tillage soil, but are higher in conventional tillage at the 5- to 15- and 15- to 30-cm depths. Other research shows similar effects of tillage or no-tillage on soil-test nutrient values (J. H. Edwards et al., 1992; Prasad and Power, 1991). These data tend to lead to the conclusion that surface-applied soil amendments and plant residue would be less effective in conservation tillage than in conventional tillage. But, under most circumstances, the concentration of nutrients and soil organic matter near the surface seems to have little, if any, influence on their effectiveness. In fact, nutrient uptake may be enhanced by conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage. Hargrove (1986) reported enhanced uptake of several nutrients by corn planted no-tillage and no-tillage with in-row chiseling compared to conventional moldboard-plow tillage. Grain yields were also enhanced. This enhanced nutrient efficiency is quite understandable when one considers that the moist, nutrient- and organic matter-rich zone of soil is more conducive

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Table XI11 Comparison of Corn Root Density in No-Tillage and Conventional Tillage Soil (Root Samples Taken 15 cm from Center of Rows)” Conventional tillage June 10

Soil depth (cm) 0-5 5-15 15-30 0-30

July 6

No-tillage June 10

July 6

cm of root per cm of soil 1.6 6.9 2.5 3.9

1.9 5.1 8.4 6.2

21.2 5.2 1 .o

5.8

21.0 5.3 2.6 6.6

“From Phillips (1984).

to plant root growth. Research shows that plant roots indeed proliferate there (Table XIII). Therefore, nutrient availability to plants is usually not diminished because of their accumulation near the soil surface, and fertilizer needs and management, with the exception of N discussed earlier, are essentially the same for both tillage systems. 2. Methods of Fertilizer Application

Surface broadcast application of fertilizers, under most circumstances, is a satisfactory practice (Thomas and Frye, 1984; Prasad and Power, 1991). Subsurface band placement of P and K may be somewhat more effective where the soiltest values are low, and subsurface or surface banding of N fertilizer may improve its efficiency. Nitrogen fertilizer efficiency is jeopardized to some extent by surface broadcast application where there is a heavy mulch cover of residue on the soil either from the previous crop or from a cover crop, especially a nonlegume. Efficiency may be lost in several ways. The fertilizer N may be immobilized by the microbial population decomposing the residue, lost by denitrification in the less aerobic environment of conservation tillage, lost by NH3 volatilization from the surface of the residue on soil, or lost by leaching of NO-3. These processes, which are generally more prevalent in conservation tillage than conventional tillage, along with the typical differential yield response to N in the two tillage systems, have led some researchers to conclude that more fertilizer N is required for optimum crop yield with conservation tillage. In general, that appears to be true; however, optimum yield under conservation tillage

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is, in most cases, greater than that under conventional tillage. This may result in a considerable advantage for conservation tillage at optimum N rates (Frye et af., 1981). The increased yield has been attributed to the enhanced soil water status brought about by conservation tillage.

3. Improving N Efficiency Several practices have been developed to improve the efficiency of fertilizer N under conservation tillage. Denitrification is more likely to occur early in the growing season when rainfall is usually more frequent, the soil is wetter, and the soil environment is less oxidative. The best practice to lessen the potential for denitrification loss of N is to delay application of most, if not all, of the N fertilizer until later in the season (Thomas and Frye, 1984). For corn, this means applying most or all of the N 4 to 6 wk after planting. The N may be banded as a sidedress application or broadcast as a topdress. In areas where irrigation is practiced, the N can be applied in the water as a fertigation application. Delayed or split application of N fertilizer has become so widely adopted that it is almost a general practice for N conservation and efficiency, especially for no-tillage corn (Thomas and Frye, 1984). In addition to decreasing denitrification losses, the practice also should provide benefits in decreasing NO-3 leaching. Since the N is applied when the soil is likely to be drier, and the application more closely coincides with rapid N uptake by plants (NaNagara et al., 1976), this leaves less time for loss before uptake occurs. Immobilization of N can be decreased greatly by placing the fertilizer below the mulch, especially when injected into the soil below the zone of high microbial activity (Bandel, 1986). Such placement of solid urea and urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution also prevents volatilization loss of NH3, a common occurrence during urea hydrolysis in surface applications of these fertilizers. The practicality of subsurface placement of fertilizers in no-tillage, for example, is questionable when the additional fuel, horsepower, equipment, time, and labor requirements are considered in comparison to the requirements for surface broadcast application. Thus, the improvement in N efficiency and the somewhat lower N rates they permit may not offset the loss of convenience and advantages of surface broadcast applications. Research in Kentucky by Murdock and Frye (1985) showed that urea surfaceapplied early May or before was about as effective as ammonium nitrate for fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) fertilization. However, when applied later than early May, a significant reduction in effectiveness resulted compared to ammonium nitrate. So, it appears that NH, volatilization loss would not be of great concern if urea or UAN were applied fairly early in the season while temperatures are still cool and rainfall is fairly frequent. However, N fertilizer has

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been shown repeatedly to be more effective when applied 4 to 6 wk after planting no-tillage corn, as discussed earlier. Therefore, delayed application of urea or UAN on the surface would be at a time when the probability of NH, volatilization loss is high. In later research, Frye et al. (1990) eliminated the differences in efficiency between ammonium nitrate and urea by using a urease inhibitor, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBFT). With urea, the NBPT increased fescue yields by an average of 13% and no-tillage corn yields by 17% over urea alone. Nitrogen and P losses in surface runoff are ordinarily very small regardless of tillage system. In Kentucky, we measured less than I% of the surface-applied N or P in the runoff from conventional tillage, chisel-plow tillage, and no-tillage (Blevins et al., 1990). Loss tended to be greatest from conventional tillage because runoff was greatest there, but the differences among tillage methods were not significant.

VII. PEST MANAGEMENT A successful pest management program must adopt a multidisciplinary, multicrop approach to be successful. Integrated pest management is an approach that is gaining in popularity and use. This technology must be effective in controlling pests and at the same time be economically and ecologically sound. Use of cover crops and conservation tillage has been shown in some situations to have a beneficial influence on reducing weeds, insects, and pathogens (Bezdicek and Granatstein, 1989). Crop rotation is another useful management tool in controlling weeds and other pests.

A. WEEDCONTROL One of the primary benefits of soil tillage in crop production over the years has been weed control. With the evolution of weed control technology and development of new herbicides, there is less and less need for primary tillage. When producers shift from crop production systems that depend heavily on plowing to conservation tillage systems, there is a greater reliance on herbicides to effectively control weeds. Different ecosystems and the presence of certain weeds may dictate tillage for seedbed preparation. In such cases, conservation tillage may not be the best choice (Lewis and Worsham, 1989). Within the last few years, the arrival of herbicides on the market that selectively control perennial weeds in corn as well

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as soybean has been a significant breakthrough in weed science. Some of these herbicides require only small quantities of material (few grams per ha) because of their high efficacy. Weed management in crops planted by conservation tillage methods depends largely on foliar- and surface-applied herbicides because seedbed preparation is reduced or eliminated and cultivation may not be practical. A mixture of a “burn-down’’ herbicide plus one or more residual herbicides is normally used. In some cases, a postemergence herbicide may be required for control of certain broadleaf weeds or grass. Any tillage system that leaves a substantial mulch at the surface provides shading that may suppress weeds because the environment is unfavorable for germination of some weeds. Research has shown that rye killed in spring inhibits the growth of weeds (Smeda and Weller, 1988). The effectiveness of rye is decreased if its residues are tilled into the soil rather than left on the surface. No-tillage planting into rye residue maximizes potential allelopathic weed control. Subterranean clover (Trijolium subterraneum L.) has been shown to be effective for controlling weeds when used as a living mulch in no-tillage vegetable production (Ilnicki and Enoche, 1992). as has hairy vetch (Schonbeck and Doherty, 1989). Herbicides such as the sulfonylureas and imidozolinone are now used to control weeds in soybean, since soybean is very tolerant to these herbicides. More recently, compounds such as nicolsulfuron and primisulfuron have made possible postemergence control of troublesome perennials in corn, such as Johnsongrass. These chemicals are effective yet are required in only small quantities. The reduction in amount of herbicide materials applied to a crop should reduce the potential for the material to eventually pollute the groundwater. As mentioned in Section 11, herbicides such as triazines are appearing in groundwater sources because of their widespread use as a residual herbicide for corn. Prudent use and management of herbicides is a challenge that farmers and weed scientists currently face. Postemergence herbicide applications allow the use of an integrated weed management approach and applications can be made on the basis of economic threshold levels of weeds.

€3. DISEASES AND INSECTS As conservation tillage evolved in the 1960s and 1970s, there was concern about how such a revolutionary cultural practice would affect the severity of insect infestation and disease incidence. At that time, most pest control recommendations were based on deep coverage of residues by plowing. There are two differing viewpoints on the overall influence of residue management and conservation tillage on pest management. First, conservation tillage may generate a more favorable habitat for soil- and surface-dwelling insects and pathogens. The residue left at the surface reduces water loss, moderates tem-

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perature extremes, and provides food resources for the pest (House and Crossley, 1987). Second, the burial of residue containing root pathogens does not seriously reduce the levels of inoculum produced. For this reason, conservation tillage that leaves the residue at the soil surface where it is subject to drying out may actually provide a less favorable environment for these organisms to multiply. There is an ongoing effort by researchers to understand the possible interactions of conservation tillage with soil organisms. According to Fortnum and Karlen (1985), crop residue and tillage affected nematode species differently. A Meliodogyne incognita population did not change significantly with tillage, but S. bruchyururn populations were significantly higher in conservation tillage treatments where crop residues remained on the surface. In contrast, S. bruchyurum populations were lowest for conservation tillage plots when 90% of the residue was removed or incorporated. Thus, residue management seems to have more influence on nematodes than does tillage per se. Cook et ul. (1978) described the environment produced by conservation tillage and its influence on incidence of plant diseases. They reported that, for many plant pathogens, residues provide a source of food, a place to live, and a place to reproduce. A significant proportion of root-infecting organisms, for example, depend on crop residues for survival in soil. Moldboard plowing to bury the residue does not necessarily reduce the levels of inoculum produced and the potential for disease incidence in the next cropping system. Root diseases caused by Pythium species are favored by wet soils and cool temperatures, especially in corn production. Root disease damage has been reported to be greater under no-tillage treatments for a fine-textured, poorly drained soil in Ohio (Van Doren et ul., 1976). A beneficial effect of crop residues in conservation tillage systems is the reduction of stalk rot in soybean in Nebraska. Mycophagous springtails (Collembola)have been used as a biocontrol for Rhizoctonia soluni by reducing the inoculum density. Rickerl and Touchton (1989) reported that no-tillage systems resulted in 29% more Collembola than conventional tillage, but populations were not high enough for effective control of Rhizoctonia soluni. Tyler et a f . (1983) found lower nematode counts in no-tillage than conventional tillage soybean in Tennessee. They speculated that higher residue levels at the surface in no-tillage may have increased the population of organisms that feed on nematodes. In the same study, they showed a greater incidence of brown spots on leaves of conventionally tilled than no-tilled soybeans, but stem canker was a greater problem on no-tillage soybeans. Although the soil-insect complex may present a problem in conservation tillage, the problems are manageable. Furrow application of systemic insecticides has shown promise in moderating soil insect stress and certain foliar insects. Many of the insect problems are unaffected by tillage methods. Musick and

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Beasley (1978) reported that wireworms cause more damage in no-tillage systems, however, in most situations, the previous crop and management may affect insect damage more than tillage methods themselves (All and Musick, 1986). Research on cotton in Georgia showed that infestation of tobacco thrips on seedling cotton is reduced for up to 21 d in no-tillage as compared to surface tillage (All et al., 1992). The lesser cornstalk borer is found in fewer numbers in no-tilled corn than in conventionally tilled corn. Research in North Carolina indicates that biological control of cutworm larvae, corn earworm pupae, and corn rootworm eggs and larvae by predatory mites and beetles occurs more often under no-tilled soybeans (Van Duyn and House, 1989).

VIII. CONCLUSIONS As we approach the twenty-first century, the technology to successfully grow crops using a variety of conservation tillage systems is available to our farmers. The alliance of farmers, scientists, and agribusiness has transformed crop residue management strategies and tillage methods from an idea to a system that effectively reduces erosion, reduces soil degradation, is cost-effective, and is environmentally acceptable. Soil properties and their ecological environment determine the limitations and suitability for using conservation tillage methods.

A. PROGRESS IN CONSERVATION TILLAGE The development of new and more effective herbicides allows flexibility in choice of crops, crop rotations, and tillage methods. As a result, different versions of conservation tillage are being used around the world. The systems vary from large-scale farming operations in the Corn Belt of the United States and grain-producing areas of Argentina and Brazil to the small hill farmers in Central America. These systems range from agroforestry systems in Costa Rica and Indonesia to rice farmers in Bangladesh that direct-plant wheat into their rice fields just before harvesting and at the beginning of the dry season. Variations in cultural practices are necessary because of ecological and socioeconomic factors. Even though conservation tillage has many facets, the basic principles include the management of mulches, a reduction in mechanical tillage, and adoption of cropping combinations that will preserve the soil resource base and still produce satisfactory yields. Rapid progress in technology has been made during the last two decades in developing equipment to till, plant, and spray and yet allow the farmer to leave

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crop residues at the soil surface. The use of sweeps, field cultivators, and other equipment that incorporate less residue has made mulch tillage a viable version of conservation tillage that is being successfully used in many areas of the United States. Use of conservation tillage in conjunction with a residue management strategy has become the primary approach and management method to reduce soil erosion.

B. FUTURENEEDS AND DIRECTION An area of current concern is the role that conservation tillage may have in the movement of agricultural chemicals into our natural waters. We still do not have a clear understanding of how herbicides react with the soil, the transport processes involved, and the fate of the herbicides if they reach the groundwater. Long-term multidisciplinary field studies that include direct measurements from surface water and groundwater are needed immediately so the potential problems can be addressed with a research data base. To reduce chemical inputs, we need to develop and refine integrated farming systems that include alternative tillage methods, cropping systems, and pest management strategies. The use of biocontrols for pest management has potential but needs a lot of research and testing before it can be used effectively at the farm level. Any successful approach to conservation tillage must be profitable and sustainable, protect our soil and water resources, and be environmentally sound. Better use of previous crop residues that may include winter annual cover crops when needed will be part of a viable system that gives us the best protection for our soil and water resources and is usually cost-effective. There is an urgent need to determine the amount of mulch required for different soils and climates in order that we may select conservation tillage systems that are most appropriate for given site-specific environments.

REFERENCES All, J. N., and Musick, G. J. (1986). Management of vertebrate and invertebrate pests. In “NoTillage and Surface-Tillage Agriculture: The Tillage Revolution” (M. A. Sprague and G . B . Triplett. eds.), pp. 347-387. Wiley, New York. All, J. N.. Tanner. B . H . , and Roberts, P. M . (1992). Influence of no-tillage practices on tobacco thrips infestation in cotton. I n “Profeedings of the 1992 Southern ConservationTillage Conference” (M. D. Mullen and B. N. Duck, eds.), Spec. Publ. 92-01. Tenn. Agric. Exp. Stn.. Knoxville. Angle, J . S . . McClung. G.. Mclntosh. M. S . . Thomas, P. M., and Wolf, D. C. (1984). Nutrient

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loses in runoff from conventional and no-till corn watersheds. J . Environ. Qual. 13,431-435. Bandel, V. A. (1986). Nitrogen management for no-tillage corn. In “Proceedings of the Southern Region No-Tillage Conference” (R. E. Phillips, ed.), South. Reg. Ser. Bull. 319, pp. 1-15. University of Kentucky, Lexington. Bezdicek, D. F., and Granatstein, D. (1989). Crop rotation efficiencies and biological diversity in farming systems. Am. J . Altern. Agric. 4, I 1 1- 119. Blevins, R. L., Thomas, G.W., and Cornelius, P. L. (1977). Influence of no-tillage and nitrogen fertilization on certain soil properties after five years of continuous corn. Agron. J . 69, 383-386. Blevins, R. L., Smith, M. S . , Thomas, G. W., and Frye, W. W. (l983a). Influence of conservation tillage on soil properties. J. Soil Water Conserv. 38, 301-205. Blevins, R. L., Thomas, G.W., Smith, M. S . , Frye, W. W., and Cornelius, P. L. (1983b). Changes in soil properties after 10 years continuous non-tilled and conventionally tilled corn. Soil Tillage Res. 3, 135-146. Blevins, R. L., Frye, W. W., Baldwin. P. L., and Robertson, S . D. (1990). Tillage effects on sediment and soluble nutrient losses from a Maury silt loam soil. J . Environ. Qual. 19, 683-686. Bond, J. J., and Willis, W. D. (1969). Soil water evaporation: Surface residue rate and placement effects. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. Proc. 33,445-448. Brown, S . M., Whitewell, T., Touchton. J. T., and Burmester, C. H. (1985). Conservation tillage systems for cotton production. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 49, 1256-1260. Burwell, R. E., Timmons, D. R., and Holt, R. F. (1975). Nutrient transport in surface runoff as influenced by soil cover and seasonal periods. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. Proc. 39,523-528. Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) (1992). ‘‘ 1992 National Survey of Conservation Tillage Practices.” CTIC, West Lafayette, IN. Cook, R. J., Bwsalis, M. G..and Doupnik, B . (1978). Influence of crop residues on plant diseases. ASA Spec. Publ. 31, 147-164. Dick, W. A. (1983). Organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and pH in soil profiles as affected by tillage intensity. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 47, 102- 107. Dick, W. A., Van Doren, D. M., Jr., Triplett, G.B.,Jr., and Henry, J. E. (1986). Influence of long term tillage and rotation combinations on crop yields and selected soil parameters. 11. Results obtained for a Typic Fragiudalf soil. Ohio Agric. Res. Dev. Cent., 1181, 1-34. Doran, J. W. (1980). Soil microbial and biochemical changes associated with reduced tillage. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 44,765-771. Douglas, J. T., and Goss, M. J. (1982). Stability and organic matter content of surface soil aggregates under different methods of cultivation and grassland. Soil Tillage Res. 2, 155- 175. Duley, F. L., and Kelly, L. L. (1939). Effect of soil type, slope, and surface conditions on intake of water. Res. Bull. Nebr. Agric. Exp. S m . 112. Duley, F. L., and Russell, J. C. (1939). The use of crop residues for soil and moisture conservation. J. Am. SOC.Agron. 31,703-709. Edwards, J. H., Wood, C. W., Thurlow, D. L., and Reef, M. E. (1992). Tillage and crop rotation effects on fertility status of a Hapludult soil. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 56, 1577- 1582. Edwards, W. M., Shiptalo, M. J., and Norton, L. D. (1988). Contribution of macroporosity to infiltration into continuous corn no-tilled watershed: Implications for contaminant movement. J . Contam. Hydrol. 3, 193-205. Edwards, W. M., Shipitalo, M. J., Dick, W. A,, and Owens, L. B. (1992). Rainfall intensity affects transport of water and chemicals through macropores in no-till soil. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 56, 52-58. Ehlers, W. (1985). Observations on earthworm channels and infiltration on tilled and untilled loess soil. Soil Sci. 119, 242-249.

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Ehlers, W. (1979). Influence of tillage on hydraulic properties of loessial soils in western Germany. I n “Soil Tillage and Crop Production” (R. Lal, ed.). Proc. Ser. No. 2, pp. 33-45. Int. Inst. Trop. Agric., Ibadan. Nigeria. Ellison, W. D. (1944). Studies of raindrop erosion. Agric. Eng. 25, 131-136. Fortnum, B. A. and Karlen, D. L. (1985). Effect of tillage system and irrigation on population densities of plant nematodes in field corn. J. Nematol., 17, 25-28. Frye. W. W.. Blevins, R. L., Murdock, L. W., and Wells, K. L. (1981). Energy conservation in notillage production of corn. In “Crop Production with Conservation in the 80s.” Proceedings of ASAE Conference on Crop Production wirh Conservation in the 80s. pp. 7-81. ASAE Pub]. St. Joseph. Michigcn. Frye. W. W., Ebelhar, S . A., Murdock, L. W., and Blevins, R. L. (1982). Soil erosion effects on properties and productivity of two Kentucky soils. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 46, 1051-1055. Frye, W. W., Murdock, L. W., and Blevins, R. L. (1983). Corn yield-fragipan depth relations on a Zanesville soil. SoiISci. SOC.Am. J . 47, 1043-1045. Frye, W. W. (1984). Energy requirement in no-tillage. I n “No-tillage Agriculture: Principles and Practices” (R. E. Phillips and S. H. Phillips, ed.), pp. 127- 151. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York . Frye, W. W., Burnett, 0. L., and Buntley, G. J. (1985). Restoration of crop productivity on eroded or degraded soils. In “Soil Erosion and Crop Productivity” (R. F. Follett and B. A. Stewart, ed.), pp. 335-356. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin. Frye, W. W., Varco, J. J., Blevins, R. L., Smith, M. S., and Corak, S . J. (1988). Role of annual legume cover crops in efficient use of water and nitrogen. I n “Cropping Strategies for Efficient Use of Water and Nitrogen” (W. L. Hargrove, ed.), pp. 129- 154. Am. SOC.Agron., Madison, WI. Frye, W. W., Murdock, L. W., and Blevins, R. L. (1990). “Improved Efficiency of Urea Fertilizer with Urease Inhibitor,” 1990 Agron. Res. Rep., p. 25. Dep. Agron., University of Kentucky, Lexington. Gantzer, C. J., and Blake, G. R. (1978). Physical characteristics of a Le Sueur clay loam following no-till and conventional tillage. Agron. J . 70, 853-857. Glotfelty, D. E. (1987). The effects of conservation tillage in practices on pesticide volatilization and degradation. I n “Effects of Conservation Tillage on Groundwater Quality (T.J. Logan er al.. eds.), pp. 169- 177. Lewis Pub]., Chelsea, IN. Griffith, D. R.. Mannering, J. V., and Moldenhauer. W. C. (1977). Conservation tillage in the eastern cornbelt. J. Soil Water Conserv. 32, 20-28. Griffith, D. R., Mannering, J. V., and Box, J. E. (1986). Soil and moisture management with reduced tillage. I n “No-Tillage and Surface-Tillage Agriculture: The Tillage Revolution” (M. A. Sprague and G. B. Triplett, eds.), pp. 19-57. Wiley, New York. Hargrove. W. L. (1986). Winter legumes as a nitrogen source for no-till grain sorghum. Agron. J. 78, 70-74. Hill, R. L., and Cruse, R. M. (1985). Tillage effects on bulk density and soil strength of two Mollisols. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 49, 1270- 1273. House. G. J., and Crossley, D. A., Jr. (1987). Legume cover cropping, no-tillage practices, and soil arthropods: Ecological interactions and agronomic significance. I n “The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage” (J. F. Power, ed.). Soil Conserv. SOC.Am., Ankeny, 10. Ilnicki, R. D., and Enoche, A. J. (1992). Subterranean clover living mulch: An alternative method of weed control. Agric. Ecosys. Environ. 40, 249-264. lsmail, Isro, Blevins, R. L., and Frye, W. W. (1993). Long-term no-tillage effects on soil properties and continuous corn yields. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J., in press. Johnson, H. P., Baker, J. L., Shrader. W. D., and Laflen, J. M. (1979). Tillage system effects on sediment and nutrients in runoff from small watersheds. Trans. ASAE 22, 11 10- 1114.

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Johnson, R. R. (1991). Residue management with chisel-type implements. Proceedings of national conference on crop residue management for conservation. Soil Water Conserv. Soc., pp. 2 1-23. Kanwar, R. S . , Baker, 1. L., and Laflen, J. M. (1985). Nitrate movement through the soil profile in relation to tillage system and fertilizer application method. Trans. ASAE 28, 1802- 1807. Laflen, J. M., Baker, J. L., Hartwig, R. O., Buchele. W. F., and Johnson, H. P. (1978). Soil and water losses from conservation tillage systems. Trans. ASAE 21, 881 -885. Lal, R. (1982). “No-Till Farming,” Monogr. No. 2. Int. Inst. Trop. Agric., Ibadan, Nigeria. Lal, R. (1985). Mechanized tillage systems effect on soil properties of tropical Alfisol in watersheds cropped to maize. Soil TillageRes. 6, 149-161. Lal, R. ( 1989). Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture: Tropics vs. temperate environments. Adv. Agron. 42,85-197. Lal, R., Logan, T. J., and Fausey, N. R. (1989). Long-term tillage and wheel-track effects on a poorly drained mollic ochraqualf in northwest Ohio. 1. Soil physical properties, root distribution and grain yield of corn and soybeans. Soil Tillage Res. 14, 34-58. 1.aws, J. 0. (1941). Measurements of fall velocity of water drops and raindrops. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 22,709-721. Lewis, W. M., and Worsham, A. D. (1989). Weed management. In “Conservation Tillage for Crop Production” (M. G. Cook and W. M. Lewis, eds.), pp. 28-39. North Carolina State Agriculture Extension Service, Raleigh. Lindstrom, J. J., and Onstad, C. A. (1984). Influence of tillage systems on soil physical parameters and infiltration after planting. J. Soil Water Conserv. 39, 149- 152. Lindstrom, M. J., Voorhees, W. R., and Randall, G. W. (1981). Long-term tillage effects on interrow runoff and infiltration. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J . 45, 945-948. Mannering, J. V., and Fenster, C. R. (1977). Vegetative water erosion control for agricultural areas. I n “Soil Erosion and Sedimentation.” Am. Soc. Agric. Eng., St. Joseph, MI. Mannering, J. V., and Fenster, C. R. (1983). What is conservation tillage? J. Soil Water Conserv. 38, 141-143. Mannering, J. V.. Griffith, D. R., and Richey, C. B. (1975). “Tillage for Moisture Conservation,” Pap. No. 75-2523. Am. SOC.Agric. Eng., St. Joseph, MI. McCalla, T. M., and Army, T. J. (1961). Stubble mulch farming. Adv. Agron. 13, 125-196. Miller, M. F., and Krusekopf, H. H. (1932). The influence of systems of cropping and methods of culture on surface runoff and soil erosion. Res. Bull. Mo.,Agric. Exp. Sm. 177. Moody, J. E., Jones, J. N., and Lillard, J. H. (1963). Influence of straw mulch on soil moisture, soil temperature and growth of corn. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. Proc. 27, 700-703. Moschler, W. W.,Martens, D. C., Rich, C. J., and Shear, G. M. (1973). Comparative lime effects on continuous no-tillage and conventionally tilled corn. Agron. J. 65, 781-783. Mostaghimi, S.. Dillaha, T. A.. and Shanholtz, V. 0. (1988). Influence of tillage systems and residue levels on runoff, sediment, and phosphorus losses. Trans. ASAE 31, 128- 132. Munawar, A., Blevins, R. L., Frye, W. W., and Saul, M. R. (1990). Tillage and cover crop management for soil water conservation. Agron. J. 82,773-777. Murdock, L. W.. and Frye, W. W. (1985). Comparison of urea and urea-ammonium phosphate with ammonium nitrate in production of tall fescue. Agron. J. 77, 630-633. Murdock, L. W., Herbek, J. H.. and Gray, T. (1992). “Row Cleaners in No-Till Corn Production.” 1992 Agron. Res. Rep., pp. 14- 15. Dep. Agron., University of Kentucky, Lexington. Musick, G. J., and Beasley, L. E. (1978). Effect of the crop residue system on pest problems in field corn (Zea Mays L.) production. ASA Spec. Publ. 31, 1733-186. NaNagara, T., Phillips, R. E., and Leggett, J. E. (1976). Diffusion and mass flow of nitrate-nitrogen into corn roots grown under field conditions. Agron. J. 68, 67-72. Nanni. C., and Baldwin, C. S. (1987). Interseeding in corn. I n “The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems” (J. F. Power, ed.), pp. 26-27. Soil Conserv. Soc.Am., Ankeny. 1A.

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Peterson. G. A., and Power, J. F. (1991). Soil, crop, and water management. I n “Managing Nitrogen for Groundwater Quality and Farm Profitability” (R. F. Follett, D. R. Keeny, and R. M. Cruse, eds.), pp. 189- 198. Soil Sci. SOC.Am., Madison, WI. Phillips, R. E. (1984). Soil moisture. In “No-Tillage Agriculture: Principles and Practices” (R. E. Phillips and S. H. Phillips, eds.), pp. 66-86. Van Nostrand-Reinhold, New York. Phillips, R. E., Blevins, R. L., Thomas, G. W., Frye, W. W., and Phillips, S. H.(1980). No-tillage agriculture. Science 208, 1108- 1113. Prasad, R., and Power, J. F. (1991). Crop residue management. I n “Advances in Agronomy” (B. A. Stewart, ed.), pp. 205-251. Springer-Verlag, New York. Rasnake, M., Frye, W. W., Ditsch, D. C.. and Blevins, R. L. (1986). “Soil Erosion with Different Tillage and Cropping Systems. Soil Science News and Views.” Dep. Agron., University of Kentucky, Lexington. Rice, C. W. (1983). Microbial nitrogen transformations in no-till soils. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertations. Department of Agronomy. University of Kentucky, Lexington. Rice, C. W., and Smith, M. S. (1982). Denitrification in no-till and plowed soils. SoilSci. SOC.Am. J. 46, 1168- 1173. Rice, C. W., and Smith, M. S. (1984). Short-term immobilization of fertilizer nitrogen at the surface of no-till and plowed soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48, 295-297. Rice, C. W., Smith, M. S., and Blevins, R. L. (1986). Soil nitrogen availability after long-term continuous no-tillage and conventional tillage corn production. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J . 50, I 206- I 2 I 0. Rickerl, E. A., and Touchton, J. T. (1989). Tillage and rotation effects on collembolla populations and Rhizecronia infestation. Soil Tillage Res. 15, 41 -49. Romkens, M. J. M., Wilson, D. W., and Mannering, J. V. (1973). Nitrogen and phosphorus composition of surface runoff as affected by tillage method. J . Environ. Qual. 2, 292-298. Schonbeck, M., and Doherty, W. (1989). Cover crops for Northeast vegetable farms: A report on research at New Alchemy Institute. NUI.Farmer Spring, pp. 12-13. Schoningh, E., and Alkamper, J. (1985). Effects of different mulch materials on soil properties and yield of maize and cowpea in an eastern Amazon Oxisol. Inr. Symp. Humid Trop., Isr, Manus, Brazil. Shelton. C. H., and Bradley, J. F. (1987). Controlling erosion and sustaining production with notillage systems. Tenn. Farm Home Sci. (winter) 18-23. Smeda. R. J., and Welter, S. C. (1988). Factors influencing the effectiveness of rye for weed management in transplanted tomatoes. Proc.-North Cenr. Weed Control Conf. 43, 12. Thomas, G. W., and Frye, W. W. (1984). Fertilization and liming. In “No-Tillage Agriculture: Principles and Practices’’ (R. E. Phillips and S. H.Phillips, eds.), pp. 87-126. Van NostrandReinhold, New York. Thomas, G. W., Blevins, R. L., Phillips, R. E., and McMahon, M. A. (1973). Effect of a killed sod mulch on nitrate movement and corn yield. Agron. J. 65, 736-739. Touchton, J. T., Gardner, W. A,, Hargrove, W. L., and Duncan, R. R. (1982). Reseeding crimson clover as a N source for no-tillage grain sorghum production. Agron. J. 74, 283-287. Tracy, P. W., Westfall. D. G., Elliott, E. T., Peterson, G. A,, and Cole, C. V. (1990). Carbon, phosphorus. and sulfur mineralization in plow and no-till cultivation. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J. 54, 457-461. Tyler, D. D., and Thomas, G . W. (1977). Lysimeter measurement of nitrate and chloride losses from soil under conventional and no-tillage corn. J. Environ. Qual. 6,63-66. Tyler, D. D., Overton, J. R., and Chambers, A. Y. (1983). Tillage effects on soil properties, diseases, cyst nematodes, and soybean yield. Soil Water Conserv. J . 38, 374-376. Tyler, D. D., Wilson. G. V., Logan, J., Thomas, G. W., Blevins, R. L., Caldwell, W. E., and Dravillas, M. (1992). Tillage and cover crop effects on nitrate leaching. In “Proceedings of the

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1992 Southern Conservation Tillage Conference” (M. D. Mullen and B. N. Duck, eds.), Spec. Publ. 92-01. Tenn. Agric. Exp. Stn., Knoxville. Unger, P. L. (1978). Straw-mulch rate effect on soil water storage and sorghum yield. Soil Sci. SOC. Am. J. 42,486-491. Unger, P. W., and McCalla, T. M. (1980). Conservation tillage systems. Adv. Agron. 33, 1-58, Utomo, M. (1986). Role of legume cover crops in no-tillage and conventional tillage corn production. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation Dep. Agron., University of Kentucky, Lexington. USDAKSRS Sustainable Agriculture Research and Educational Program ( 1992). “Managing Cover Crops Profitably,” Sustainable Agric. Network, Handb. No. 1. Rodale Institute, Emanaus, PA. Van Doren, D. M., Triplett. G. B., and Henry, J. E. (1976). Influence of long term tillage, crop rotation, and soil type combinations on corn yield. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 40, 100- 105. Van Duyn, J. W., and House, G. J. (1989). Insect management. In “Conservation Tillage for Crop Production” (M. G. Cook and W. M. Lewis, eds.), pp. 46-50. North Carolina State Agricultural Extension Service, Raleigh. Voorhees. W. B. (1983). Relative effectiveness of tillage and natural forces in alleviating wheelinduced soil compaction. Soil Sci. SOC.Am. J . 47, 129- 133. Wagenet, R. J. (1987). Processes influencing pesticide loss with water under conservation tillage. In “Effects of Conservation Tillage on Groundwater Quality” (T. J. Logan e t a / . .eds.), pp. 189204. Lewis Publ., Chelsea, MI. Wagger, M. S. (1987). Timing effects of cover crop desiccation on decomposition rates and subsequent nitrogen uptake by corn. In “The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems” (J. F. Power, ed.), pp. 35-37. Soil Conserv. SOC.Am., Ankeny. IA. Wendt, R. C., and Bunvell, R. E. (1985). Runoff and soil losses for conventional, reduced, and notill corn. J . Soil WaferConserv. 40,450-454. Wilson, D. O., and Hargrove, W. L. (1986). Release of nitrogen from crimson clover residue under two tillage systems. SoilSci. SOC. Am. J . 50, 1251- 1254. Wittmuss, H. D., and Yazar, A. (1981). Moisture storage, water use and corn yields for seven tillage systems under water stress. ASAE Publ. 7-81, 66-75.

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE: THEIRROLEIN CREATING PLANT GENETIC VARIABILITY Peter A. Peterson Department of Agronomy Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 5001 1

I. Introduction: The Heterogeneity Question 11. Maize Breeding Accomplishments: What the Plant Breeder Has Wrought A. The Maize Genome: How Much Has Been Manipulated? B. Yield Components 111. Transposable Elements A. Their Phenotype Variegation B. Transposable Elements: Their Discovery C. Components of Transposable Elements D. Systems E. Genetic Resolution of a Transposable Element F. Transposition G. Effects on Gene Expression H. Presence in the Maize Genome I. Neoteny and Realignment of Resources for More Efficient Networks J. Summary of Effects Definitions of Terms and Symbols References

I. INTRODUCTION:THE HETEROGENEITY QUESTION The focus in this review is on the manipulation of plants by plant breeders that has resulted in a striking improvement of crop plants during the twentieth century and especially in the last three decades. Transposable elements associated with maize (Zea mays L.) breeding are the primary focus, although this subject is applicable to other crop plants. Breeders’ efforts with maize have uncovered a 79 Aduanrrs in A p m y , Vdumr Y J

Copyright 0 1993 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of r e p d u d o n in any form reserved.

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highly heterogeneous genotype (Goodman and Stuber, 1983a,b) that can be manipulated in most directions to achieve the desired goal (Russell, 1991; Hallauer, 1992). Plant breeders have used numerous breeding schemes with a varied measure of success. When one then examines the Iowa recurrent selection program with the BSSS populations, from which successful inbreds have been uncovered (Hallauer, 1990a,b), an immediate question is where the variability leading to improvement originated. There are three possible options: (a) This heterogeneity is the assemblage of favorable alleles arising from the recombination of existing heterogeneity in the populations during selection protocols. According to this scenario, the existing variability in the genomes of current maize populations is recombined or resorted to fit the breeder’s needs as selection proceeds. (b) In a second option, new variability (new alleles) is continually being generated (Peterson, 1986a,b). According to this scenario, maize is possibly unique in its potential to generate changes at a high rate in the genome, some that are favorable alleles and others that are unfavorable. Thus, breeders’ selection procedures incorporate these new favorable changes and discard the unfavorable types. (c) In the final scenario, the heterogeneous genotype that the maize breeder has available and manipulates to make better inbreds is derived from a combination of (a) and (b). Thus, (a) + (b) = (c). This review is biased toward option (c), with a major emphasis on the genetic input found in (b) in this formula. Specifically, (b) is enhanced by transposons prevalent in most plants but highly visible in maize. These transposons will be described, and their effect on individual genes will be illustrated. Further, their pervasiveness in maize populations will be examined.

II. MAIZE BREEDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS:WHAT THE PLANT BREEDER HAS WROUGHT A. THE MAIZEGENOME: How MUCHHAS BEEN MANIPULATED?

There has been considerable progress in maize improvement. W. A. Russell (1991) has summarized concepts and results of maize breeders during the eras of scientifically driven maize breeding. In this review, Russell examined the genetic gain that resulted in maize improvement. (Genetic gain is that improvement derived from genetic changes. These changes, though, accommodate husbandry practices that advance maize culture.) He reviewed his own extensive research on this problem as well as that of others, notably Duvick (1977, 1984, 1986, 1991) and Castleberry et al. (1984). The reader is referred to his review (Russell, 1991), but a few principles will be summarized.

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1. Some General Concepts a. Exotic Germplasm Exotic germplasm has had a relatively insignificant role in Corn Belt maize breeding programs (Hallauer, 1990a). Though many attempts have been made to incorporate nonadapted germplasm, this resource has not been utilized, despite the multitude of available diversity (Goodman, 1985, 1990; Goodman and Stuber, 1983a,b). This feature will be discussed in a later section. b. Genetic Gain There has been genetic gain over eras of maize breeding: in the decades between 1930 and 1970, there has been a marked increase in yields of maize cultivars at several plant densities but most notably at the higher plant densities. What is very evident is that the 1930s material could not sustain its yield potential at the high plant densities when compared with current materials. It could be concluded from these studies that 79% of the increased yield is attributable to genetic gain. This attribution to genetic gain is substantial. These results are supported in a second study (Russell, 1984) that covered the 1930- 1980 period. The Duvick studies (1977, 1991). using different materials, showed somewhat similar results with genetic gain of 60%. What can be concluded from the genetic gain findings involving higher plant densities is that the maize breeder manipulated the genotype that led to the newer hybrids and, in doing so, accommodated higher plant densities. The plant breeder met the challenge of new husbandry practices of fertilizer, pesticide control, and advances in machinery. Sustaining high yields at higher plant densities includes changes in many plant components that “tailor” or “fine-tune” the genotype for this new level of plant culture. Some changes could include “downgrading” some gene functions. We will return to this aspect in a later section. c. Maize Hybrids and Stress Since final yield is a complex process attributable to a number of components, one significant item is resistance to stress. This is a dominant characteristic of the newer hybrids. The capacity of plants to withstand the debilitating effect of either drought or heat leading to stress is a significant genetic gain. The 1980 hybrids show a decided resistance to a stress environment (Russell, 1984; Duvick, 1991). In the evolutionary development of our progenitor maize plant, the plant accumulated many fail-safe systems such as leaf rolling to avoid moisture loss-a feature used differently in modern maize culture with the numerous amendments. d. Efficiency in Nitrogen Utilization Modern maize growing practices have prompted the selection of hybrids that show a greater capacity to utilize nitrogen by expressing greater nitrogen effi-

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ciencies. This must be a complex trait that would accommodate the more available nitrogen into the maize plant, affecting sink, kernels, leaves, membranes, and other structures. A number of other traits have been improved, such as root and stalk lodging resistance, disease resistance, reduced barrenness, and a simplified smaller tassel. These are changes in the genotype, and in Section I11 the origin of such changes will be discussed. e. Recent Hybrids Are Able to Maintain Yields at High Densities The sustained yield at higher densities of modern-day hybrids is a necessary characteristic. How, then, could plant breeders successfully breed this characteristic into their hybrids? Eliminating excess vegetation such as tassel size, leaf excess, and other undiscovered physiological changes would be possible. In tassel size reduction, the limitation of pollen starch development would save resources that could be directed elsewhere, such as to the ear. Molecular investigations on comparative studies of drought-sensitive versus drought-resistant types will likely identify specific genes that distinguish between the two types.

B. YIELDCOMPONENTS Components of the genome that contribute to yield have been investigated in maize. What would qualify as a component that would have an effect on yield? Studies on this theme have been investigated by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, Geadelmann and Peterson (1978), and the Iowa Experiment Station by Russell’s group (El-Lakanyu and Russell, 1971; Prior and Russell, 1975). The general objective of these experiments is to maximize a “plant’s opportunity” to increase yield. Would the selection and incorporation of deep kernel (D),long ear (L), and multiple ear (M) (prolificacy) components add to the total yield of a plant? Or would combinations of each of these individual units such as DL, DM, or LM when incorporated in a backcross-selection program substantially affect yield? Geadelmann and Peterson ( 1978) concluded that selectively adding these double components in a backcross-selection program did not exceed the normal type at a high plant density-at least, those densities common to those in the Corn Belt. The modified types did perform well at low plant densities as might be expected, for example, prolificacy where the genomes would maximize its potential. This was true for the other single components. In general, according to a cytogenetic view, these results are not a surprise. At best, a backcross program would entail considerable “drag.” The number of genes in a two-component strategy would be numerous and downstream linkages

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would be difficult to dislodge. Further, a two-component genome contribution might be at cross-purposes. Genes for prolificacy (M)might not be positive for those with ear depth. The genome contribution might be considered as a cassette, a subject that will be discussed in Section 111. Thus prolificacy by itself was successfully utilized at low plant densities whereby this trait “capitalized” on the unused resource potential of the maize hybrid.

111. TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS

A. THEIR PHENOTYPE VARIEGATION Transposableelements are pervasive in a wide assortment of organisms (Fig. 1) (Peterson, 1987), and they have been found, often unexpectantly, in most genes that have been molecularly analyzed (Schwarz-Sommer et al., 1984; Wessler and Varagona, 1985). When genes are isolated, inserts are often found that are transposable elements. Mobile elements (mobile and transposable will be used interchangeably) transpose (move from one position to another), and when they insert into genes they interrupt gene function (Figs. 2A and B). This results in a null phenotype such as colorless kernel (disrupts gene transcription at a stop codon or out of frame sequence). This disruption continues until an active element excises the insert (Fig. 2B). The subsequent excision of these inserts, namely, their transposition out of the gene, restores gene function, and this activity on different tissues leads to variegation (Fig. 1A). This is most prominently seen in kernels of maize as kernel color variegation or starch differentials. However, it can also be seen in leaves and in other plant parts (Figs. 1A-D). Though variegation is a prominent part of the expression of mobile elements, these elements can only be seen as variegation when they are inserted into genes that are visually expressed, such as those controlling color or starch type in kernels of maize. That is, there must be a ”reporter” that can be expressed. If these transposons are in an anthocyanin gene controlling kernel color and the plant genotype is not expressing kernel coloration, they will not be evident to the observer. Commercial corn, for example, lacks anthocyanin coloration (two of the genes necessary for color are almost always recessive; consequently, color cannot be observed), and an insert in one of the other color genes is not expressed. 1. Transposons since the Beginning of the Origin of Maize

Though transposons may be prominent either in a genotype or in any population, they are not recognizable to the observer because they have not inserted into recognizable genes; they are still transposing and affecting functions not

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Figure 1. Expression of transposable elements in four species. (A) Zea mays, a2-m (Peterson, 1978). (B) Petunia hybridu (Wijsman, 1986). ( C ) Dahlia, horticultural variety. (D) Glycine m u . 4-m18 (Peterson and Weber, 1969). (FromPeterson, 1987, with permission.)

easily discernible. Transposons have been in maize populations since the beginning of prescientifically driven maize breeding (Blumberg vel Spalve et al., 1990), but they escaped detection in populations of maize because transposable elements themselves do not have an observable phenotype. Transposable elements can only be recognized when they interrupt a gene function. For this, it is necessary to have prominent observable gene functions impaired, such as those affecting coloration in flowers (Fig. lB), leaves (Fig. IC),and kernels (Fig. 1A). These genes with an insert would act as reporter alleles. An insert in a gene for a trait that is part of a complex set of genes (e.g., stem elongation) would not easily be recognizable. Surprisingly, one of the first genes to be experimentally

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examined in the beginnings of the science of genetics, namely, the wrinkled peas of Mendel, was identified more than 100 years later (after Mendel’s work) to be caused by an insert (Bhattacharyya er al., 1990). Thus, the absence of transposons in certain crop species may be a consequence of the lack of observable options. A transposable element phenotype has been uncovered in rice (Oryza sariva) (Reddy and Reddy, 1992) and soybean (Glycine m a ) (Groose et al., 1988). One only has to reflect that 50 years of intensive maize genetics preceded McClintock’s (1947) genetic studies before transposons became resolved (McClintock, 1948). These concepts will be demonstrated subsequently.

B. TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS: THEIR DISCOVERY 1. A Short Synopsis of the McClintock Experiments

Barbara McClintock arrived at Cold Spring Harbor in 1941. Before going to the Carnegie Laboratory, her studies included chromosome aberrations and rings in maize (McClintock, 1931a,b, 1944, 1945), and before that, she had singlehandedly established the chromosome ideotype of maize that gave maize genetics a sound foundation early in the science of genetics (McClintock, 1929). In the period just preceding these transposon studies, she induced homozygous minute deficiencies by the induction of crossing-over (step A in Fig. 3A) in certain aberrations that led to bridges that yielded mutants (McClintock, 1932, 1944). The breakage events that yielded a number of these instabilities are illustrated in steps B and C of Fig. 3A. The aberration that McClintock used was on chromosome 9 (Fig. 3B). Because chromosome 9 was being used for numerous other studies, McClintock was very familiar with its genes, namely, the color ( C l ) locus, shrunken (Shl) locus, and waxy (wx)locus. She made a detailed analysis of the yellow-green locus at the end of the short arm of chromosome 9. In proceeding with this bridge-breakage-fusion cycle (Fig. 3A), it was clear that the chromosome breaks were at random on the short arm of chromosome 9. Sometimes the Cl and S h l shrunken genes were lost and other times the loss included the Wx gene. Or it was sequential, with the Cl gene lost first, followed by the Shl and then the Wx gene. This random breakage event was expected. However, in the pursuit of these studies, she observed that in one case the breaks were always occurring at a position proximal (direction of Wx toward centromere) to the wx locus (Fig. 3B). Why did the chromosome 9 break at this specific point? She concluded that this specific chromosome site was weakened and had the property to dissociate, breaking rather readily at that specific point. Thus, she named that site Ds for dissociation. As she progressed with crosses in further studies, she observed that this breakage event segregated. That is, this site showed breakage

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Figure 3. (A) The bridge-breakage-fusion cycle and illustration of some of the events during meiosis leading to transmission of the products of this meiosis to the fertilization event. The crossover from the duplication arrangement (1) leads to a bridge and breakage (2) with a rejoining and bridge and breakage and microspore products (3, 4, 5 ) . (From Peterson, 1987, with permission.) (B) Chromosome 9 in maize showing a break at Ds.

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because the site segregated like a Mendelian event. In reconstitution crosses, she uncovered a second factor that was needed for breakage to occur, indicating that the breakage event required two factors-a breakage site Ds and a second factor, Ac (McClintock, 1945). This is what was suggested. She reisolated these lines in appropriate crosses and reconstituted the experiment. Starting with a line (the Ds line) that did not show breaks, she introduced the second factor to this line. From this cross, breakage again resulted. She was able to demonstrate that, indeed, there was a second factor that activated the Ds breakage event. She called the second factor Ac for activator. There were more surprises to come. In subsequent crosses, McClintock found that this breakage event now was located at a position different from the original one on chromosome 9. Instead of losing all the material distal to wx (Fig. 3B) (chromosome 9), the site was now located in a place whereby the Shl and the C1 loci were lost (McClintock, 1948). Could it be that the Ds locus moved from one position to another and was now located just proximal to Shl? Or was a new site activated to become Ds while the other site was deactivated? Further experiments would clarify this observation. The unexpected observation came in the cross illustrated in Fig. 4A, in which an exceptional kernel appeared (part C of Fig. 4A). The two expected phenotypes resulting from the cross are shown in part B of Fig. 4A. The expected genotype C l cl cJ in the aleurone of the cross ( c l lcl X C1lC1) should show the loss of the C1 locus to yield a colorless region when the cross was made against a recessive c line. However, there was an exceptional kernel in that the pattern of the coloration was reversed. Instead of colorless sectors on a colored background (loss of C), the pattern showed colored spots on a colorless background. This particular kernel was identified as cl -ml . A dominant C1 gene had seemingly changed to cl -m. When pursued further in backcrosses, c l -ml lcl x c l I c l , she found that the variegated phenotype was dependent on a second factor (McClintock, 1948). The segregation told her that. Further, in making crosses to Ds lines with the same second factor, she found that this factor indeed was Ac (Fig. 4B). Thus, if Ac was activating this variegated phenotype, it must mean that Ds had inserted itself into the C1 gene, changing it to a cl-ml allele. This was truly transposition from one point of chromosome 9 to the C1 gene. This was also creditable deductive reasoning, reasonable in hindsight but difficult to envisage. There were yet more surprises. Many other loci became unstable and were shown to be controlled by Ac. It seemed that Ds elements exploded and were transposing into genes (a significant novel concept), inactivating many genes, and responding to Ac. Thus, with these observations over a number of years and with many intricate and delicate experiments, there was established the notion of transposition of genetic material that resulted in the control of the expression of genes (McClintock, 195 1). Variegation, therefore, was caused by elements in the genomes that move.

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

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A

iB = CC I

c-m-1 Discovered

--

Yg C Sh wx Ds = Colored wx

yg c sh wx

=

1

shrunken

No Ac

on AC tester (CDsShWx)

Ac line

=

Regulator-Receptor Interactions

I

I

t Round-%=C-c

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I

I I

cm-l

csh wx t’ Round :(shrunken)

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-

I

I

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2

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+

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*-50:50*

I I I I I

-

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I

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Ac

Yg C Sh wx Ds

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&

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Figure 4. (A) Origin of cf-mf ( I ) . From the expected phenotypes shown in (Z),an exceptional spotted kernel appeared (3). The test on a CDs line to test for the Ac relation in (4) indicates a c-rnf relation to the Ac-Ds family. (From Peterson, 1987, with permission.) (B) Cross of a Ds line (CDs) with an Ac line ( c Ac) yields variegation by the induced breakage at Ds, causing the loss of C. (C) Assorted segregation types of regulators such as Ac and En and receptors such as CDs and arnl(1). ( + , mutability; - , no mutability). (From Muszynski, M. G., and Peterson, P. A., 1990).

Although variegation has been identified in historical references since botanists first reported “eversporting” varieties in their study of plants (e.g., Darwin, 1868; Lecoq, 1862; Knight, 1808), these transposable elements were not available for analysis until McClintock (1951) found them in her Cold Spring Harbor nursery. And not because new tools were available in the 1940s. This could equally have been analyzed in the 1920s if the same experiments were conducted with the bridge-breakage-fusion cycle. The first clue was the observation that breaks were at a specific site and regulated by a Mendelizing second factor. This was followed by the observation that these elements could be found at a new site

II

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PETER A. PETERSON

and then in a gene cl -ml that showed the variegation that resembled the eversporting varieties of an earlier era. Now transposition of genetic material can be associated with variegation.

2. Concepts of Unstable Genes in the Pre-McClintock Period Such observations require a concentration on detail and precision in experiments, truly a McClintock trademark. But what image did geneticists have of unstable genes during the 1940s and early 1950s? During that period, unstable genes (as they were called in the 1930s) had a different image than they did later. Some of the early history on the concepts of mutable genes in a variety of plant species has been reviewed by Demerec (1935). At that time, they were considered to be unstable genes. Thus, up to the time of McClintock’s experiments, this variegation of plants was attributed to unstable, mutable, or sick genes. The early studies in maize by Emerson, and subsequent studies in the decades of 1910 to 1930, came very close to a genetic analysis. The key component of demonstrating transposition evaded Emerson’s studies, as well as later studies by Rhoades, because of the lack of evidence for transposition. Given more extensive crosses, especially by Emerson (1914, 1918, 1929) with his unstable pericarp, he would have been mystified by the results if transposition was observed, especially at a time when concepts in genetics were being established. If a reporter allele was not present or available, there would have been a difficulty and, especially working with the P allele, most of the possibilities would have evaded Emerson because the P-vv locus (unstable pericarp color) would have covered up some of the mutants that might have occurred in various aleurone genes. Thus, the discovery waited until the mid- 1940s when McClintock experiments with another goal unexpectedly uncovered mobile elements. It is appropriate to set the stage for the mid-1940s when McClintock, working at the Carnegie Laboratory at Cold Spring Harbor, uncovered a large number of unstable mutants while studying the bridge-breakage-fusion cycle (BBF). The gene at that time was vaguely conceptualized as beads on a string. This was amplified by the consideration of the Drosophila banding patterns. Further, McClintock (1942, 1944) had shown in previous work with the BBF cycle that some of the maize chromosomes contained chromomeres that appeared like beads on a string, which could be “fractured,” and the resulting products showed mutations of various genes on that chromosome.

3. The Concept of Genes at the Time of the McClintock Experiments How did McClintock conceptualize gene material when she conducted her experiments? Actually, it didn’t matter because she was driven by her own acute observations, and this led her in pursuit of further experiments. Her colleagues

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at Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, New York, were very active in the forefront of genetics. Demerec was pursuing Drosophila and Salmonella genes, Kaufmann and McDonald were studying Drosophila, and MacDowell was studying mice (Mus) (Demerec, 1946, 1947). Evelyn Witkin was working with repair mechanisms in bacteria. This was the core group at the Camegie laboratories. Bruce Wallace with his Drosophila populations joined them in the late 1940s. McClintock let her experimental observations drive her research rather than be biased by preconceived notions. Yet, in the genetic community, and especially in the New York area, there was extensive speculation on the genetic material, although the experiments of Avery et al. (1944) had not yet been coupled with those of Hershey and Chase (1952). Also the Watson and Crick (1953) model for the molecular structure of nucleic acids was not available. What was the prevailing understanding of genes there in the late 1940s? Visual observation of the Drosophila chromosome indicated a banding pattern and maize chromosomes showed chromomeres, suggesting beads on a string. Furthermore, the Drosophila work in the late 1930s and 1940s uncovered a phenomenon called position effect. This concept was strongly supported by GoldSchmidt (1953, who proposed that mutations were caused by interruptions in the chromosome by some rearrangement. Why did he support this notion? A number of genes were found, such as the genes of the Notch locus in Drosophila, that by all observable features were an unchanged banding pattern and seemed to be normal. Thus, it could be concluded that there must be some rearrangement of the chromosome material. The banding pattern in Drosophila was the key to gene arrangement. Further, other genes were found to cause mutation by a rearrangement that was not at the gene affected but at a short distance away from the gene site. How could gene expression appear and disappear in development? One could not assume changed genetic material, but one could assume affected genetic material. Thus, there was strong support for position effect, meaning that the normal locus, near a rearrangement break, seems to have changed expression to a mutant action, making the chromosome as a whole the primary focus of gene action. There were many cases of this type. The yellow locus in Drosophila was an example. The BAR duplication (Bridges, 1936) had a quantitative effect when located in a specific arrangement as visualized with the banding pattern. Other significant research was Beadle’s (1932) work with the sticky gene. Here, all the chromosomes were affected by a mutation in only one gene. Trans effects were not part of the dialog. The sticky gene by its action led to an increase in both chromosome rearrangements and point mutations. Thus, it appeared from the phenotype of the sticky gene that it, too, was caused by rearrangements that resulted in a position effect. These observations by Goldschmidt related to his concepts of chromosome structure and integrity. This was similar to thephl gene in wheat (Triticum vulgare) that dominates chromosome pairing between genomes (Gill and Gill, 1991).

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Since position effects could be reversed, it seemed that the genes were unchanged in content but rearranged, and thus could be re-rearranged. There was no support for the idea that there was any difference between position effects and point mutations. Now we come to the so-called repeats. This was a case where mutants (two or more) behaved like multiple alleles, for example, the Drosophila studies of Bithorax by Lewis (1945), lozenge (lz) by Green and Green (1949), and, in maize, the Ab locus by Laughnan (1949). These fit Goldschmidt’s theory of genes and mutation, and although there was limited support for his views, they could not be ignored. Thus, Goldschmidt hypothesized that mutants are rearrangements in the chromosome that cause mutation. This hypothesis supported the idea that the entire chromosome was the basis of genic action, and the interruption in this chromosome led to these mutant loci. This, then, was the status of genes when McClintock hypothesized about her observations.

c. COMPONENTS OF TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS 1. Genetic When a gene controlling color, such as a l - m , shows variegation, and is outcrossed to a standard full color line and the subsequent F1 (Allal-m) is backcrossed to a standard recessive ( a l - o ) , two possibilities may be visualized (see Fig. 12). If all or most of the noncolored progeny are variegated (Fig. 12A), one could conclude that the element is expected to reside at the gene locus, and the unstable allele would be considered autonomously mutable. This would indicate that mutability is coupled with the a l - m allele. If, on the other hand, only half of the noncolored kernels are variegated (Fig. 12B), then the control of mutability is independent of the al-m allele. In this second category, independent control, the insert at the locus (such as McClintock’s Ds in our previously described example) was nonfunctional but could respond to an active element that was segregating independently. Specificity: When the second component (identified as Ac) is introduced to variegation in the form of the line with a gene with an inserted component (Ds), spotting results (Fig. 4B). This resulting variegation is derived from a very specific interaction. For example, when this colorless kernel (al-Ds, Ds is an insert in the A1 gene, eliminating A1 expression and therefore a1 -Ds)was crossed to a previously described unstable element, namely, the Dt element (Rhoades, 1936, 1938), nothing happened. There was no instability and the kernels remained colorless. Thus Dt induced spotting on the al-dt allele but showed no spotting with the al-Ds allele, though the inserts are at the same locus. Similarly, when this same al-dt allele that responded to Dt was now exposed to Ac, again

TRANSPOSABLEELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

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nothing happened, the kernels remained colorless (Fig. 4C). Thus, though these two alleles resided at the same locus, there was something unique about the interaction of each of the elements with the introduced functional element. The resolution of this specificity of interaction awaited molecular investigations (Fedoroff et al., 1983; Pereira et al., 1986). This was further substantiated as new instabilities were uncovered. For example, when another a1 allele, one of the En system, was tested with Dt, again no variegation resulted although it expressed variegation with En (part A in Fig. 4C ). Similarly with Ac, no variegation resulted (Peterson, 1961). Thus there appeared to be a specificity of the active element such as Ac, Dr, or En with something specifically unique to it at the locus. What was unique at each allele could be recognized only by the specific element. From a one-component autonomously mutable allele, a two-component element system arose. Thus, there was a relationship with the initial insert and the resulting allele when a onecomponent mutability changed to a two-component mutability (independent control). As was earlier indicated by Peterson (1970), the visitation at the locus by a functional element caused a change to an allele with resulting loss of mutability. In this change from a functional element to a receptor element, something was “left behind.” What was “left behind at the allele” awaited molecular investigation. 2. Molecular TNPA and TNPD With the uncovering of the Ac transposable element by the Fedoroff group (Fedoroff et al., 1983; Pohlman et al., 1984), these mysteries regarding specificity quickly dissipated. It was clear that with the investigation of the wx-m9 allele, a comparison was possible with the derivative wx-m9 receptor allele. When the one-component wx-m9 autonomous mutable wx was compared with the wx-m9-derived Ds-containing unit, it could be seen that the wx-m9 Ds was derived directly from the wx-m9 Ac by deletion of part of Ac in the original allele that incapacitated its function. What Ds lacked was part of Ac (now we know it as the transposase-determiningportion of Ac), which is an active component that can recognize the insert that it left behind, namely, the Ds. All the other parts remained intact. Research on the elements uncovered that they had a structure and definition that could be analyzed. The Ac element consisted of 4000+ nucleotides (bp unit), and it was found that there was a definitive structure to the insert. From sequence analysis, a terminal inverted repeat (TIR) of a certain length could be seen as well as a target-site duplication (TSD) (GTT in Fig. 5 ) . Was there a pattern to element structure? Were TIRs and TSDs part of other elements? When EnlSpm was uncovered and molecularly analyzed, the TIR and TSD were also there but were different in length and content. This fit the geneticists’ receptor

PETER A. PETERSON

94

I I 5 5 I I

49

i\ A

;:“ T

A

C A T C -C wxm8 5’ C G T G G T C A A m wxt

CGTGGTCAA

m C A A C G C G G C 3’ CAACGCGGC

Figure 5. Part of a transposable element illustrating the TIR (13 bp) and the TSD (GTT) (3 bp). The motifs (the lines between 2 5 , 29, etc.,) are aligned and continue for 200 bp.

element as a fractionated part of the active element when a comparison was made with the w x - d element (Schwarz-Sommer et af., 1984; Pereira et al., 1986). It was also clear that the identifying mark of the element had a specific TIR and TSD like the En. Thus, what was determined genetically on the specificity of interaction became clear. The elements of a specific group fit into a specific category, namely, identifiable TIR and an identifiable TSD. The functional element Ac or En only recognized its own motifs, and the next several years were needed to verify this. These TIRs and TSDs are illustrated in Table I. So, what was “left behind” as conjectured in 1970 (Peterson, 1970) was a fractional part of the original element. These transposable elements have been dissected and reexamined in more extensive detail with more definitive molecular examination in the last decade. Since the EnlSpm is most fully investigated, it is appropriate to examine this element. The EnlSpm transposable element has 8237 bp and contains a definitive structure (Figs. 6A and B). By examining the full-size sequence of the element and comparing it to the cDNA, it was evident that there were 11 exons and 2

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

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Table I Molecular Characteristics of Some Examples of Plant Transposable Elements“

Element Dsl ACl En I Spm-I8 MuI-MuS BR rbR rcy:Mu7 Mu RI Tam1 Tam2

NAU Au Au NAu NAu Au

NAu NAu Au NAu

Plant Zea mays L . Zea mays L. Zea mays L. Zea mays L. Zea mays L . Zea mays L. Zea mays L. Zea mays L. Zea mays L. Antirrhinum Anrirrhinum

kb 0.405 4.563 8.287 2.241 4.869 2.2 4.0 17. Varies

DuplicaTerminal in- tion of verted repeat target (bp) site I1 11 13 13 + 200 5 5 200 220 13 13

+ +

8 8 3 3 9 8 8 9 9 3 3

“From Peterson (1987). Hartings e r a / . (1991). and Chomet er al. (1991) bNonautonomous. ‘Autonomous.

open-reading frames. It was also evident that there were TIRs on the end and, of course, a TSD of 3 bp. In subsequent genetic studies following the original description of En at the p g locus (Peterson, 1953, 1960), an al-rnl allele was found to be colorless in the absence of EnlSprn but colorless with spots in the presence of EnlSprn. McClintock found an al-rnl(5729)allele that was colored in the absence of En/ Spm but colorless with spots in its presence. This was different. It is readily evident that the functional EnlSprn suppressed coloration with a Suppressor (S) function and induced spots (excision) with a Mutator (M) function. This is what made EnlSpm so attractive for study. It showed two clear functions, S and M. But, how did these genetic functions relate to the molecular structure? Two functions could be determined in genetic investigations. These interactions are illustrated in Fig. 7. It is now necessary to dissect the molecular sequences and determine the boundaries of the functional components. In Southern blotting and probing with En, two bands are recognized, a heavystaining 2.5-kb (Fig. 2B) and a lighter 6.0-kb band. These two transcripts were related to the En structure (Fig. 6A). And, from the sequences, two proteins could be visualized, TNPA and TNPD (Fig. 6A). Several studies demonstrated the functional domains of these two proteins (Frey et al., 1990a,b; Masson et al., 1991a,b). TNPA is a DNA binding protein and recognizes the IZbp sequence motif of

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PETER A. PETERSON

P

AUG

P

B

UGA

4

En1

C

D

P

AUG

4

4

UGA 4590 bp

1-102

u

PMW-1ERMWAL EXONS

CMBOXY-TERMINAL EXONS

Figure 6. Structure of the En1 element. The ORFs (dotted in A) and 1 1 exons (open boxes, shaded in A) are shown in B. The origins of TNPD and TNPA are also shown in A. A derivative En2 is illustrated in C showing the deletion of OW2 and part of ORFl. The alm(r) deletion derivative (1102) is shown in D.

the TIR and adjacent motifs. The S function was genetically defined as the suppressor function of the EnlSpm system (Fig. 7 , bottom) by McClintock (1961). It should be emphasized that this suppressor component can only be visualized in alleles such as al-m1(5719),where the insert allows gene expression to occur, and this gene expression can be suppressed by the introduction of an EnlSpm. Other alleles such as al-m(r) (Fig. 6D) (Peterson, 1961) are colorless and, therefore, not S expressive. It has finally been shown that this suppressor function is

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Figure 7. The a-ml allele (a-m157l9A-I) without (top) and with (bottom)En (colorless with spot). It is shown with the linked sh2 gene and a weak M action but a strong S (fully suppressed).

caused by the TNPA protein that blocks transcription read-through (Gierl et al., 1985, 1988a,b). At this point, there are two genetic functions, and they relate to the two transcripts tnpA and tnpD. Also known is the structure of En (Fig. 6). What is not known is how the structure relates to the genetic and molecular observation. What is the extent of the En sequences that govern these functions? How many of the exons (Fig. 6A) are related to the S function, and how many are part of the M component? An attack on this problem would come from a deletion analysis. Two mutants were available, En2 (Gierl er al., 1988a) and Spm-w8011 (Masson et al., 1987), to determine the sequences governing these functions. The En2 mutant was molecularly analyzed and shown to be a fractured En and to have all the exons intact (Fig. 6C). There was, however, a 1126-bp dele-

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PETER A. PETERSON

tion that included all of ORF2 (open-reading frame) and part of ORFl . In genetic tests, En2 had a full S function. Because the S function was expressed in genetic tests, it could be concluded that the exons were responsible for this function. But the M function was impaired. Only a few spots appeared in genetics tests with appropriate reporter alleles (Fig. 8). The M function must therefore be controlled by the ORFs, which showed a deletion. The few spots could come from residual En activity in the genome according to these investigators (Gierl er al., 1988a). Yet, given another reporter allele with En2, a high expression of M is observed (lower ear in Fig. 8). It is clear from this observation that the deletion in En2 did not eliminate the M function. What of the rest of the structure of the En element? The 13-bp perfect TIRs in the ends of the element and the sequence motifs in the subterminal regions of EnlSpm (Figs. 5 and 6) define the critical cis-determinants needed for excision of IIdSPM elements. Further, the subterminal 12-bp TNPA binding motifs (Fig. 3,though quite similar, must be in an ordered orientation, that is, head to head or tail to tail with a prescribed distribution and repetition for proper excision. Nature is very precise. The trans-effect is derived from the TNPA protein (the S function) that brings the ends of the element together like a zipper such that the

Figure 8. The En2 element with a l m 15719 on top and alm(Au)pule-(mr) on bottom. The difference in spotting is due to the receptivity of the reporter alleles.

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

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TNPD protein (the M effect) could cut the element where the 13-bp TIRs intersect with the TSD (Fig. 5 ) . These two products of EnlSpm, namely, TNPA and TNPD, were critically analyzed by using transgenic systems. Each was inserted into transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabucum) with a GUS insert (Frey et al., 1990b; Masson et al., 1991b). By making several definitive constructs, it was found that with TNPA alone, no effect can be seen. Nor with TNPD alone. However, when the two are combined in the same transgenic tobacco plant, GUS expression (expression of P-glucuronidase) is evident, indicating that excisions are taking place. An I element (dSpm) is inserted in the GUS coding sequence and thus inhibits GUS enzyme activity. Excision of the I element insert permits GUS activity, which is expressed as blue-staining tissue upon histological staining with X-Gluc (Jefferson et al., 1987). With these experiments it was clearly obvious that the S function was associated with TNPA and M was associated with TNPD. The previous concepts of the interaction of elements in causing excision are confirmed as earlier envisioned, namely, that TNPA binds and brings the inverted motifs together (Fig. 5 ) and the TNPD along with it will cause excisions to take place. Thus, with these experiments, it is shown that TNPA is necessary for TNPD to function.

D. SYSTEMS Early in the genetic investigations of mobile elements, it was obvious that these various elements fit into systems. This was based on the exclusion of interaction in some cases and the inclusion in other cases. This is illustrated in Fig. 4C.Here the Ds or the I element is identified as the receptor, and the Ac or the En element is the regulator. When receptor 1 shows a response to regulator 1, it is part of the same system. However, it does not show response to regulator 2. This is the case of an En element with a Ds receptor. Similarly, receptor 2 does not respond to regulator 1, but it does respond to regulator 2. This would then account for the Dr not activating the Ds elements as well as the En not activating the a-dr allele. Relating back to the molecular investigations, the Dt protein does not recognize the /-element motif nor does the En protein (TNPA) recognize the Ds motifs. In past decades with genetic studies of transposable elements, eight systems (Fig. 9) have been identified. Each system shows a specific genetic interaction, and those analyzed genetically show a distinctive molecular DNA sequence. These systems are identified with an exclusion pattern as well as an inclusion as indicated, and when their molecular definition is determined, they show unique TIR and TSD configurations (Table I). A question that will be considered is why

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PETER A. PETERSON

= responds as mutability; absence of = Au = Autonomous element

+

indicates no response.

Figure 9. Transposable element systems. Regulatory elements are specific in their activation receptor elements. There are three cases of overlap in activity. Ac activates all Ds’s, but Llq activates only Dsl. Fcu activates rcu and R-r#2 but Spfis limited to R-r#2. Cy and MulR appear to have homologous activity. ( + ) of

have these various elements survived in maize populations and why are there so many diverse systems?

E. GENETIC RESOLUTIONOF A TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENT First, let us examine the nature of their survival in maize populations. Variegation in flowers and leaves as well as in kernels was seen in botanical investigations long before the geneticists realized they were associated with elements (transposable) in the genome that transpose. Further, there was clear evidence that newly arisen variegated loci arose in experiments conducted with mutable loci (Demerec, 1935). Why, then, were these variegated phenomena not assignable to transposable elements? The clue to this has already been given. Reporter alleles had not been isolated that would have provided the tangential evidence needed to establish a relationship. Such a case will be given of a newly arisen variegated locus. In northwestern Colombia, in the swampy region near Panama, the Cuna In-

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Figure 10. Cuna tribal corn. (FromGonella and Peterson, 1977.)

dians grow a maize with a striking wine-red variegation symptomatic of a transposable element (as opposed to a mottling phenotype often seen in some crosses) (Fig. 10). If such maize seed were brought into a laboratory, one would ask several questions (Peterson, 1978). What gene is involved? To what transposable element system does it belong? And what is its inheritance, whether it is autonomously mutable or whether it is independently controlled? A crossing protocol as illustrated in Fig. 11 would be developed to answer these questions. The crosses in the Y pathway in Fig. 11 would establish that an anthocyanincontrolling locus was involved. In the Cuna example, the variegation was assignable to the r locus and therefore is r-m(Cuna) (Gonella and Peterson, 1977). The X pathway in Fig. 1 1 is followed to answer two of our other questions-the nature of inheritance and system relationship. The results seen in X-1versus X2 illustrate the inheritance pattern. Because the segregation does not agree with results expected for X-1 but was like X-2,variegation is controlled by an independent factor. Using the variegated kernels from the x-2cross progeny, a system relationship could then be tested. If any variegation appeared in the crosses (X-2I ) , then r-m(Cuna) is assignable to the system represented by that reporter allele. Because none of the reporter alleles showed any variegation in the crossing protocol, it could be concluded that r-m(Cuna) is a new transposable element system and is controlled by an independent factor. This was finally identified as the Factor-Cuna system (Fcu) (Gonella and Peterson, 1977, 1978).

F. TRANSPOSITION 1. Genetic Detection McClintock (1948) established that Ds had moved. From a position proximal to the wx locus in her initial studies, Ds was now near the CI-ShI region. In a

PETER A. PETERSON

102 Variegated Cuna

x

V pathway tester lines of anthocyanin genes. al, a2, c, r, c2, etc.

X pathway

only the r tester uncovers the mutant. All the other Fl’s are colored. Conclusion: rlt Is r-m (Cuna)

on to color line &

colored F1 seifed 4

w X-1 - if co1or:variegated -

X-2 if co1or:variegated:colorless

=

31 variegation is autonomously controlled

=

12:3:1 variegation is controlled by an independent factor

determlnatlon X-2-1 Cross r-m (Cuna) to assorted reporter alleles c-m(r), a-rcy, a-Ds., etc. r-m(Cuna) x

reported alleles--ex c-m(r)

b

Colored F1 X-2-2 R/r-m (Cuna) C/c-m(r)

x b

No varieaation

reporter alleles-ex c-m(r) if variegation appeared with one of the reporter alleles, then r-m (Cuna) would be of that system. Result is negative for c-m(r).

-,

Conclusion: r€n is not implicated. The same with all other reporter alleles. A new system Is estabtlshed, Fcu-rcu

Figure 11. Determination of the gene locus, heritability, and transposable element system of a newly discovered variegated allele. Described in text.

strict sense, one could question whether this was the transposition of material. All evidence suggested that it was. For the purist, however, there was a nagging question. Could the events observed be a correlative deactivation followed by activation elsewhere? The geneticists of that period were willing to consider any option but concede that genetic elements moved. That is, where Ds was found in the position proximal to cl, could that be an activation of an element near the cl position followed by deactivation of the one proximal to wx? Similarly, with the origin of c1-mf, could that be from an activation of an element subsequent to deactivation elsewhere? Although this seemed like a remote possibility, it was a legitimate question at the time, especially if one was not prone to accept the possibility that genetic elements can transpose.

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

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This could readily be obviated if there was a correlated event. If it could be clearly established that the loss at one place was followed by the discovery of the element at a new position, especially in the same tissue, this would be most appropriate. Such a demonstration was possible with a variegated P locus ( P RR-Mp), where a variegated (coarse) phenotype was associated with the original mutable pericarp. This variegation is conditioned by an insert of the modulator element (Mp) (now recognized as Ac) in the P locus (Emerson, 1914; Brink and Nilan, 1952). When a second Mp element is present, the phenotype changes. The new phenotype has a distinctly fine type of variegation as opposed to the coarse type of variegation with the original mutable pericarp locus. Coincident with this change in phenotype, the excision of the M p leads to a colored phenotype. In crosses where medium pericarp variegation (the c o m e type) was observed, there were twin sectors of colored and fine type. This suggested that the fine and the red co-twin were the produce of one event. Numerous twin sectors were found. When it was analyzed, it was shown that the red sector lacked the Mp and the fine sector had the extra Mp identified as rrMp (transposed Mp). This would indicate that a loss of Mp at one position (coarse type) yielding a red full-colored phenotype meant a gain of the element at another position, resulting in two phenotypes as twins (Greenblatt and Brink, 1962, 1963; Greenblatt, 1966, 1968, 1974). The most important feature is that the various rrMp arising from transposition from the P-RR-Mp had their origin from the P locus (because the red phenotype appeared), indicating that transposition did occur from the P locus. There was another surprise. From one transposition, two trMp arose, and when tested via linkage studies, both indicated that they were at homologous positions on two different chromosomes. This became a useful and revealing method concerning the transposition mechanism (Greenblatt, 1984). McClintock’s studies were reconfirmed by the Greenblatt and Brink studies, and transposition was now established. An example is presented to illustrate the transposition of En from a f -m(papu). The a f -m(papu) allele is an autonomously mutable allele inserted in the second exon of the A 1 locus. From several studies it became clear that the En was located at the locus because of the correlative transmission of al-m(papu) and En in testcrosses (Fig. 12). Here, most of the non-Af (colored) kernels are variegated, indicating that mutability follows the a f -m(papu) allele. This was verified in both a self and a backcross population. The few colorless kernels arising in the backcross and in the self populations are disturbing. A test of these colorless exceptions is followed in Fig. 12B, which will determine the nature of the newly arisen colorless kernels. In this cross, the colorless kernels are crossed to a reporter allele, the a l - m f allele (a reporter allele “reports” the presence of En). This is useful because a l -mf is closely linked to sh2, and one can assume that when the shrunken phenotype is observed, sh2 is following the a l - m f allele. The product of this cross is variegated, which indicates that the newly arisen colorless kernels do carry En, and that these changed

104

PETER A. PETERSON Bl-rn(a@g) X A Z a 1-m(papu) A1 4

A

x

F1 a 1-m 1(papu)

4 112 colored:l/2 variegated: few colorless

48 4 B colorless

m

alsh2

3 colored: 1variegated:few colorless = al-ml?)Shl x 9-m-1 sh alsh2 a-m-7 sh

4

a1-mlnrJShZ

C

x

a 1-m lsh2 variegated

4

m alsh2

112 colorless:l/2 colored sh:few variegated sh

D

I

I

I

I

I

el-m(nr) Sh2 f

En

I

MmBmmHmmHWMmmmmmmmm

f

X f

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm f

I

al-ml

I

I

sh2

I

Figure 12. The genetic determination of a transposition event at the A/ gene. At B, the newly originated colorless round kernels originating from al-mlpapu) (A) are an unknown but are proven to be a/m(nr) (nonresponding) (contain an En-see variegated at C ) derivatives from the excision of En. In D, the linkage of the newly excised En to the alm(nr) allele is shown and the variegated shrunken kernels arise by a crossover at X that links the En to the a l - m l reporter allele. (al-mpapu. variegated; A / , colored.) f,continuation of gene sequence.

types are defective derivatives that no longer respond to En. That they do not respond indicates that defectives (excision repair difficulties-see Section 111, F3) do arise and are not responsive. But in this case, they do carry En and therefore are considered to be nonresponding a1 -m(nr) derivatives (Fig. 12C). This could be concluded from the cross indicated in Fig. 12B. When the cross is made as is shown in Fig. 12C, there is an indication that the En transposed from the initial a1 -m(papu) allele is close to its original site. This could be concluded because most of the derivative round (Sh2) colorless kernels from the cross in Fig. 12C are colorless, indicating that the En is in a repulsion phase with reference to the al-ml(sh2) reporter allele. The progeny resulting from the cross indicates the consequences of the transposition of En. In Fig. 12D a diagrarnmatic chromosome is shown to graphically indicate the events that occur in Fig. 12C. It would take a crossover (X)to link the a1 -ml reporter allele with the

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

10s

En that yields the few variegated shrunken kernels in the progeny of the cross. Thus, the transposition event would be established. More extensive data on En transposition were given by Nowick and Peterson (1981). The genetic studies demand that the transposable element be excised cleanly from the originating site. The basis for this is that the transposable element at the new site has all the fidelity of its original composition. Otherwise, the En functions would not be expressed. Thus, the mechanism required for this excision of the element must be precise and definitive in cutting out the element. As indicated previously, the mutable pericarp studies were definitive in describing the transposition mechanism. In later studies by Greenblatt (1984), a model was shown that illustrates the mechanism. In brief, the excision event takes place and the excision of the element occurs from a replicated segment. The new site for this transposing element is an unreplicated chromosome segment. Since it is copied before replication, this indicates that after replication we now have two elements where we had only one transpose. This is illustrated in Fig. 13A (Dash and Peterson, 1993). Such a model was aided and abetted by the availability of the twin sectors that yielded the two events in the same position. Thus, it could be established that from one transposition event, the two phenotypes appeared, namely, the colored and the fine type. When it was finally determined that the colored lack the M p and the fine pattern had two Mp's, it was obvious that one event causing the loss of M p yielded two rrMp's. The original site in the M p case was the P locus. And the P locus could be screened for M p to determine that the M p was no longer at the P locus. This was shown molecularly in later studies by Chen et al. (1987) and by Athma et al. (1992). It could be confirmed by showing that the donor site no longer had the element and that the element now was at a new position. What was also shown is that the new positions were close to the donor site. This indicated that the transposition occurred to nearby sites, which is a favorable feature for attempts to target genes. With this possibility, one could place the target close to the element or rather the element close to the target to maximize targeting efficiency for a gene. Constructs are possible to enhance the process (Dash and Peterson, 1989; Chang and Peterson, 1993). Further details on this are shown in several reviews (e.g., Peterson, 1987).

2. Key Features Leading to Variability:Alteration in Genes There are two components to the feature that contributes to gene changes and subsequent variability induction by transposable elements. Recall that the insertion of a transposable element in a host site induces a target-site duplication. In essence, nucleotides are added to the genome. Each system has its own signature with reference to the number of nucleotides added. The least number of nucleotides in a target-site duplication is the 3 bp contributed by the EnlSpm system. The Ac and the Uq elements contribute eight nucleotides to the target-

106

PETER A. PETERSON

IIIIIIII111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII; I' II 11111111111111111111llllllllllllllll

B

1. A transposase generates staggered nicks

m

=C I I

1. A transposase generates staggered nicks

5 &&3 --5

5 - - 3

t

1

< 3

5

t

32. Hypothetical intermediates Integration of a "clean" element

2. Hypothetical intermediates

I

-

3 Possible excision products

I

,

-

I

or

-

I I

I

3 Figure 13. (A) Transposition of En. Like Pvv, E n excises and yields two chromosome strands with an En. (B) 1. Excision of a plant transposable element. The wavy line represents sequences of the termini of an inverted repeat. The arrows indicate the staggered nicks. 2. Exonuclease degradation is indicated by fine dotted arrows; polymerase action is illustrated by bold dashed lines. It is here that the errors occur leading to altered sequences as shown as possible excision products in 3. (C) Integration of a transposable element. Arrows indicate the staggered nicks. D) Same symbols as in B, illustrating the possible origin of one excision event. The nicking occurs as in B. but the element has not been released. The boxed-in sequences (e.g., GTT) represent TSDs. Thin, dashed half-circles represent the extent of exonuclease degradation. Polymerase action is illustrated by a thick. dashed line. The resulting sequences are different from the original. (After Saedler and Nevers, 1985, with permission.)

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

107

site duplication. The Mu element contributes upward of 200 bp. Thus in each insertion event, the nucleotide sequence in the gene at the site where the insertion takes place increases by that number of nucleotides-3, 8, or many more. At some time in the growth of the tissue, the excision of the element takes place. The excision process is not precise. It will be shown that in over 90% of the excisions of an element, the host site is different than it was before insertion. As the transposase acts to cut out the element (recall that the cut in the element is very precise since the new site of insertion has a complete, functional element that includes the 13-bp motif of the En system or 1 1-bp TIR motif in the Ac system), errors are made in the replication and ligation of the host site. The problem lies with the whole sequence of the host site. If the gene locus was left as it was before element insertion, the duplication would not be present. However, in most events the excision process is not precise, and this should be described. First, consider that the excision process involves a protein-DNA complex (Fig. 14B)in which the endonuclease enzymes, during the binding process, cut out the element leading to excision. As hypothesized by the studies of Frey et al.

A

lxxxl -Target

site duplication TSD

11111111111111111111lllllllllllllllllllllll111111111111111111

B

GTC AA

ATA ATA AAC GCG

Figure 14. (A) Parts of a transposable element are identified. The xxx of the TSD (3 bp) and TIR (13 bp) are generalizations of nucleotide sequences. Specific bp numbers are given in Table 1. The functional part (of En) is shown in Fig. 6. (B)Diagram of the DNA-protein complex illustrating the TPNA binding and the TPND cutting event. This protein complex is described in Frey e t a / . (1990b). (After Peterson, 1986a. with permission.)

108

PETER A. PETERSON

(1990a,b), the transposase brings the termini of the element together (Figs. 5 and 14A), allowing the enzymes to commence excision. This is initiated by staggered nicks at the ends of the target-site duplication. As a consequence of these nicks, the 5' ends of the target-site duplication and the 5' end of the TIR are converted into complementary single-stranded fringes after repair synthesis (Fig. 13B). This is the reverse of the integration process. In integration, the mobile element also includes the same enzymatic complex (Fig. 14B) that has an affinity for the ends of the specific mobile element. The insertion event is accompanied by staggered nicks at the target site (Figs. 13B and C). The distance between the staggered nicks characterizes the TSD of each of the individual elements (see Table I). As the cut ends spread apart, the gaps are filled by repair synthesis, resulting in a duplication of the target site (Fig. 13C). It is possible that the templates are switching during repair synthesis (Fig. 13D). During the excision process, there is template switching combined with exonuclease degradation of the single-stranded nucleotides as shown in Fig. 13B. This template change leads to the alteration in the fidelity of the original sequence and the resulting replication of the template can lead to an excision product that is apparent. It is clear from these events that altered nucleotide sequences result from the excision process. Because these altered nucleotide sequences affect the reading frame of the gene, the alteration in the template will change the coding, resulting in altered proteins.

3. Footprints and Altered Products of Excision

,

If the excision process merely cut out the element leaving the target-site duplication intact, an examination of the nucleotide sequence of genes would uncover many instances of short duplicated segments such as ACT ACT in the En/ Spm system, or TACTAGGC TACTAGGC in the Ac system. The appearance of a series of these duplications would cause some interest. The role of transposable elements in contributing these duplicated segments would explain their presence. Yet the excision process is not wholly precise, and the footprints would be readily evident. If one makes a determined effort to isolate revertants and examines the junction site where the element left, changes in the sequence are found. This was done in several studies. In the first study, revertants were isolated from the Adhl locus (Sachs et al., 1983). Sachs et af. (1983) described the flanking sequences of the site of the Ds excision of four revertants and showed that although the duplicated sequences were retained, changes occurred at the junction of the duplicated segments (Fig. 15). In two revertants, RVI and RV2, the nucleotides show strand inversion. In two others, RV3 and RV4, the sequences showed 2-bp deletions in addition to the strand inversion. What surprised these investigators was that the qualitative level of gene action was not affected despite the addition of nucleo-

109

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MAIZE VARIABILITY

.

4

Element, gene and revertant

5' of element

Ds1 in Adhl-Fn335 TSD

S'GGGACTGA

RVl

GGGACTCTCGGACTGA

3' of element


B ->Cl ->F- and a preference for donor atoms in ligands of S>N>O. Its strong preference for SH- containing ligands (particularly polythiols) is undoubtedly the principal basis for its toxicity in biological systems. The principal thiol targets of low levels of Cd are thought to be Zn metalloenzymes, membrane phospholipids, and perhaps oxidative phosphorylation (Vallee and Ulmer, 1972). Zn occurs in various metalloenzymes where it coordinates with amino acids to enhance catalysis at the active site. Indeed, Zn is the only trace metal that is known to be essential in the function of at least one enzyme of each of the enzyme classes established by the International Union of Biochemistry (Vallee and Auld, 1990). Well-known examples are carbonic anhydrase, carboxypeptidases, alcohol dehydrogenase, and RNA and DNA polymerases. Zn-finger proteins are known to play a key role in gene regulation (Kaptein, 1991). The relationships between Cd and Zn in plants regarding uptake, translocation, and remobilization of these ions are complex (Smith and Brennan, 1983). In natural soils, Cd content varies with parent rock type. It is high in soils on basaltic rock and low in soils on granitic rock (Ryan et al., 1982). Unpolluted soils generally contain 0.01 to 30 pg/Cd/gm dry wt with a mean (variously stated) of 0.06 to 0.5 pglgm fresh wt (Hopps, 1974; Page et af., 1981; Ryan et al., 1982). Higher levels can occur in carboniferous soils and as a result of

CADMIUM IN CROPS AND EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

175

contamination from mining or smelting activity. An example of the former is the detection of 30 pg Cd/gm in natural soils derived from Monterey shale in the coastal ranges of southern California (Page et al., 1981). An example of the latter is found in the Kempen area of The Netherlands, where a 350-km2 area contains levels of soil Cd in excess of 1.O pg/gm, with the most polluted areas containing > 10 pg/gm (Copius Peereboom-Stegman and Copius Peereboom, 1989). Dietary Cd intake alone is estimated to be increased in these Kempen areas by 2.6- and over 7-fold, respectively, over that in unpolluted areas of The Netherlands. Cadmium is a by-product metal produced mainly during Zn, Cu, and Pb primary-product extraction and refinement. Because it is obtained in ample supply and is inexpensive, little refined Cd has been recycled for economic reasons. Increasing environmental awareness is leading to greater effort to recycle this metal. The lack of recycling and dissipation through use of Cd-containing products and fuels contribute to contamination of general soils, principally via atmospheric fallout near primary air emission sources (mining and refining, municipal waste incinerators, fossil fuel combustion sources) and process waste disposal sites (Nriagu, 1980; Nriagu and Pacyna, 1988). As shown in Table I, on a global scale, environmental release of Cd from anthropogenic sources may be about 10-fold that predicted from natural sources (Nriagu, 1980; VogeliLange, 1989). Ayres (1992) has pointed out that similar or higher anthropogenicto-natural release ratios are apparent for Pb, Zn, Cu, and Sb. He argues that without pollution abatement through governmental regulation, serious global pollution trends will continue. In contrast, and somewhat heartening perhaps, is a recent report indicating that tropospheric contamination of Pb and Cd in the Northern Hemisphere has decreased since the late 1960s (Boutron et al., 1991). Worldwide production of Cd has grown from less than 10 tons/year in the early 1900s to over 17,000 tons/year in the late 1970s (Elinder, 1986). It is generally concluded that soil contamination with Cd will continue to increase as long as Cd is released into the environment (Ryan et al., 1982). The four principal Cd-consuming nations are the United States, Germany, Britain, and Japan. Its main uses are in electroplating, pigment manufacture (cadmium yellow and cadmium orange, CdS), stabilization of plastics (particularly PVC), and NiCd batteries (Nriagu, 1980; Yost, 1984). A potential future, large-scale use may be for solar collectors containing CdS. Major inputs of Cd to agricultural soils are due to application of phosphatic fertilizers, municipal sewage sludges as fertilizers/soil amenders, and atmospheric deposition (Ryan et al., 1982; Van Bruwaene et al., 1984). Cd content of commercial phosphate fertilizers depends on their geographical origin and can range from 0.1 to 200 pg/gm. Elinder (1986) reported that soils that had been fertilized with phosphate rock for 20 years experienced only a small increase in Cd content. However, since increased Cd accumulation in plants grown on these

GEORGEJ. WAGNER

176

Table I Estimated Worldwide Emissions of Cadmium to the Atmosphere from Natural and Anthropogenic sources in 1975"

Source Natural sources Windblown dust Forest fires Volcanogenic particles Vegetation Sea salt sprays Total Anthropogenic sources Mining, nonferrous metals Primary nonferrous metal production Cd

cu

Pb Zn Secondary nonferrous metal production iron and steel production Industrial applications Coal combustion Oil (incl. gasoline) combustion Wood combustion Waste incineration Manufacture, phosphate fertilizers Total

Annual emission (tons/year) 100 12 520 200 1 833

2 110 1600 200 2800 600

70 50

60 3 200 1400

210 7305

"Adapted from Nriagu (1980) as in Vogeli-Lange (1989).

soils was closely correlated with soil Cd, such small increases may be important to dietary Cd content. The observed correlation may relate to the time of fertilizer application relative to crop development, soil interactive factors, etc., and perhaps an enhancing effect of available phosphorous on Cd translocation from roots to shoots (Williams and David, 1976). The effect of phosphorus on Cd translocation may depend on the form of Cd in soil (Street et al., 1978). Reducing the Cd content of phosphatic fertilizers during manufacture may be the most economical means for reducing Cd input into the agricultural environment (Jones et al., 1992). A second major anthropogenically derived source of Cd for agricultural soils is sewage sludge (Davis, 1984). In highly populated countries, sewage treatment is necessary to protect water quality. The principal by-product of sewage treat-

CADMIUM IN CROPS AND EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

177

ment is solid sludge, which is most economically disposed of by dispersement on land. About 90% of Cd in raw sewage is separated into sludge (Davis, 1984) and certain sludges can contain very high Cd (and other metal) loads as a result of industrial inputs into sewage treatment systems (Yost, 1984). Because of economic considerations and because sludges provide plant nutrients and soil conditioning, sludge disposal on agricultural as well as nonagricultural lands is increasing (Davis, 1984; Mulchi et al., 1987). In the 1980s, Britain’s agricultural soils received about 50% of the sewage sludge produced in that country (Davis, 1984). The alternative to land disposal is incineration, a process that is practiced and results in substantial emission of Cd into the atmosphere (Nriagu and Pacyna, 1988). Cadmium content is the principal factor limiting use of sludge on agricultural land. The significance of Cd inputs into soil via sludge (or any source) depends principally on its availability for crop uptake. Cd uptake from sludge-amended soil is primarily dependent on Cd load, soil pH, crop type, soil type, the nature of sludge treatment, and mode (frequency) of application of a total Cd load (Ryan et al., 1982; Davis, 1984; Mulchi et al., 1987). Thus, the relationship between sludge disposal and Cd accumulation in crops grown on sludgeamended soil is highly complex and varied. Federal guidelines regulating sludge disposal have been established in many countries. In the United States, “highquality sludges” containing no more than 25pg/gm Cd, 1 mg/gm Pb, and 10 p g / gm polychlorinated biphenyls are concluded to be safe for annual application to acid soils for as many as 200 years before maximum cumulative Cd loading is reached (Naylor and Loehr, 1981). Estimated maximum loading is based on a calculated permissible total human intake not to exceed 70 p g Cd/day (Friberg et a!., 1986). The maximum sludge loading estimate level would approximately double Cd intake from food. The logic behind the 70 p g Cd/day estimate is conservative; it accounts for the individuals who smoke and, therefore, have higher Cd intake, and for those most susceptible to effects of Cd (Naylor and Loehr, 1981). But it is based on the concept that preventing a concentration of more than 200 pg/gm wet wt in kidney cortex will assure no negative health impact from Cd. As will be described in Section VI, some disagree with this premise. Regulations for applying sludge to agricultural land in the United States were promulgated by the EPA, were revised and modified by the FDA and USDA, and have been summarized in a unified federal policy released in 1979 (Naylor and Loehr, 1981; Mulchi et al., 1987). A revision of this statement is to be released soon. Aspects concerning Cd dispersal are not expected to change. A number of agricultural experiment stations in the United States have established their own guidelines based on N and P requirements of crops to be grown and on heavy metal content of sludge to be applied (Mulchi et al., 1987). Use of sludge on tobacco soils does not appear to be advisable under any circumstance. Ryan et al. (1982) have discussed methods employed in determining

178

GEORGEJ. WAGNER

effects on crop Cd accumulation after sewage sludge application to crop lands (CAST reports). Evidence that Cd has increased in the general agricultural environment since the 1800s is found in at least two studies. Kjellstrom et al. (1975) reported that the Cd content of Swedish wheat increased about three-fold between 1900 and 1980 (Fig. 1A). Jones et al. (1992) studied levels of Cd in herbage collected at a semirural, undisturbed site in England between 1860 and 1990 (Fig. 1B). Cd concentration appeared to double during this period. Herbage from a similar, but limed plot (liming began in 1916) followed a similar trend but contained about half the Cd concentration found from the unlimed control (data not shown). The main source of Cd input in both cases (Figs. 1A and B) was thought to be atmospheric Cd fallout. Jones et al. (1992) have emphasized the importance of not underestimating the importance of Cd deposition from atmospheric fallout. Where significant fallout occurs, much Cd on crops may be initially deposited on tissue surfaces.

A 0

100

Fall Wheat, Uppsala Fall Wheat, other areas of Sweden

50

90 3

_gj

1870

H

1860

1900

1940

1980

Herbage,Rothamsted,England 1900

1940

1980

Year Figure 1. Evidence for increased Cd accumulation in crops grown on the same plots from about

1860 to about 1980. (A) Replotted data of Kjellstrom e t a / . (1975) for Swedish wheat. (B)Data of Jones er al. (1992) representing the Cd content of herbage grown on an undisturbed plot at a semi-

rural site in southeast England. In both cases, Cd contamination of soils is thought to have occurred primarily via atmospheric deposition.

CADMIUM IN CROPS AND EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

179

111. ACCUMULATION OF CADMIUM: WHOLE-PLANT STUDIES It is generally recognized that: A. Accumulation of Cd by plants is principally from soil. The major factors regulating Cd uptake are soil Cd concentration and pH. B. Plants generally accumulate Cd from soil with a concentration factor of 5 1 0 on a dry weight basis. Tissue distribution can vary with plant type and variety. C. Levels of Cd in agricultural plants are generally below phytotoxic levels and therefore healthy crops can contribute substantial Cd to the human diet. As already noted, except in conditions of high atmospheric Cd fallout, Cd accumulation by higher plants is principally from soil. Foliar interception is considered to be minimal (Van Bruwaene e?al., 1984). Using IWCdas a radiotracer, it was found that only a few percent of Cd applied to the surface of plant leaves was taken up and translocated. In contrast to higher plants, mosses and lichens may absorb substantial Cd by a foliar route (Cox, 1986). Field plants generally contain