Rotation and tillage effects on available soil water for winter wheat in a semi-arid environment

摘要: Abstract The recent adoption of conservation farming systems in the semi-arid Canadian prairies opens up possibility replacing traditional fallow period with non-cereal crops (oilseeds, legumes). However, information on changes to soil water regimes by inclusion these crops, especially combination zero tillage, is sparse. A study was initiated 1984 a sandy clay loam at Lethbridge, Alberta, investigate performance winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) under conventional, minimum and tillage monoculture 2-year rotations fallow, canola Brassica campestris or lentils Lens culinaris Medic.)/flax Linum usitatissimum L.). Conventional Lethbridge region shallow cultivation (10 cm) wide-blade (sweep) cultivator. Continuous cropping greatly depleted reserves, resulting some crop failures. Averaged over 10 years, available for establishment fall least after (45 mm), followed continuous (59 lentils/flax (74 mm) (137 mm). In this region, effect rotation much greater than that tillage. Zero had relatively little impact 1.5 m depth. once experiment been established 6–7 0–15 cm depth spring greatest Precipitation storage efficiency during year generally unaffected system.