Effects of conservation tillage on water infiltration in two soils in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

This paper reports on a study in Southeast Australia comparing water infiltration on two soil types (gray cracking clay and sandy loam) under two tillage systems - conservation tillage (zero and sub-soil, residues retained) and conventional tillage (frequently tined tillage, no surface residues). The objective of the study is to determine if conservation tillage increases the water infiltration rate on two different soils, with the hope of better explaining the mechanism for previously observed increases in soil water storage.