Evaluation of the sustainability of residue and water management practices in a wheat-soybean double-crop production system in eastern Arkansas.

摘要

Sustainable agricultural practices are becoming an increasingly recognized issue. Crop residue management practices can play a significant role in agricultural sustainability. The objective of this study was to investigate residue management [i.e., high and low residue level, burned and unburned residue, and conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT)] and water management (i.e., irrigated and non-irrigated) effects on soil properties, soil moisture dynamics, and soybean production in a wheat-soybean double-crop system in eastern Arkansas for two complete cropping cycles. While soil properties were not consistently affected by residue management, NT consistently, though non-significantly, conserved soil water more effectively than CT. Soybean yield was unaffected by residue management. In 2006, the estimated net return from the high-residue/burned/NT/irrigated treatment combination was 26% greater than the high-residue/burned/CT/irrigated treatment combination. The more environmentally sustainable practice of NT appears to be a viable, and potentially more profitable, alternative to the more common practice of CT.