Abstract:
Soil management systems influence the agricultural system as they have in short- and long term period different
effects on soil physical and chemical properties, therefore influencing the efficiency of production as well. A
well directed choice of tillage equipments leads to a better soil protection and enables a higher fertility which is
an important requirement for sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of
different soil management systems on some physical and chemical properties and the crop production of these
sandy soils. This study demonstrates the first results obtained from the year 2006, performed on the long-term
land use experiment with the effects of three different factors (deep and shallow tillage; 17 and 28 cm, lime
application; +Ca and –Ca and Farmyard manure; +FYM and –FYM) in Berlin-Dahlem (Germany), Humboldt
University of Berlin and the ZALF experimental station at Dedelow (Germany) in 5 different tillage systems
(no-tillage, mulch; 10 cm, cultivator; 15 cm, plough; 15 cm and plough; 25 cm).
The soil heterogeneity were determined and evaluated with the computer program “Surfer” depending on the
different depths of the sand and loam layers. The penetration resistances of both experimental fields showed that
the deep tillage systems caused a higher compacted zone in deeper soil layers. It was found that there are
significant differences in the soil aggregate stability and pH values between the shallow and deep tillage systems
in Berlin-Dahlem. The pH values were significantly higher in the deep tillage systems. The soil organic matter
contents were found higher in the deep tillage systems but there were no significant differences. There were also
no significant differences in grain yield between these two tillage systems in Berlin-Dahlem.
