不同耕作方式对内蒙古旱作农田土壤性状及作物产量的影响

2005—2008年在内蒙古清水河县进行了定位试验,研究了不同耕作方式下土壤微生物量及土壤营养指标、作物产量的年际变化。结果表明:免耕有利于提高土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷含量,2007和2008年不同耕作方式0～10cm土层土壤微生物量均表现为免耕留高茬覆盖>免耕留低茬覆盖>免耕留高茬>免耕留低茬>传统耕作;免耕有利于提高土壤有机质和土壤养分含量,2007和2008年不同耕作方式0～10cm土层土壤有机质和养分含量均表现为免耕留高茬覆盖>免耕留低茬覆盖>免耕留高茬>免耕留低茬>传统耕作,实施免耕的前3年,玉米产量不稳定,甚至造成玉米减产,第4年免耕增产效应有所显现;不同保护性方式下土壤指标与玉米产量之间的相关度较好,通径分析得知土壤全氮、全磷、速效磷及微生物量碳对玉米产量起直接作用,其中尤以土壤微生物量碳的作用最大;免耕有利于改善内蒙古农田旱作区的土壤生态环境,提高土壤肥力。     

不同玉米秸秆还田方式对冬小麦田土壤呼吸的影响

在连续耕作10年的保护性耕作农田进行定位试验,采用静态箱-TGC气体分析仪法田间原位观测玉米秸秆还田对冬小麦田土壤呼吸的影响.结果表明:麦田土壤呼吸与玉米秸秆留茬高度呈显著正相关关系,且在小麦整个生育期具有两个峰值;免耕不还田处理的土壤呼吸为免耕全量还田处理的72.5％,常规耕作不还田处理的土壤呼吸为常规耕作全量还田处理的76.5％.土壤呼吸与20 cm土层土壤温度和有机碳含量呈显著正相关,但与40 cm土层土壤有机碳含量相关性不显著;土壤水分与土壤呼吸的相关性显著.麦田秸秆全量还田处理的土壤日呼吸值呈单峰曲线,于18:00达到最高.20 cm土层土壤温度与土壤呼吸值的变化趋势一致.不同秸秆还田量处理中,留茬1 m的秸秆还田处理能显著减少土壤呼吸,是较合理的秸秆还田方式.     

潮棕壤免耕农田土壤酶活性的动态变化

研究了潮棕壤免耕和常规耕作农田土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性在玉米不同生育时期和不同土层深度的动态变化.结果表明,免耕可显著提高表层(0～10 cm)土壤酶活性,其蔗糖酶活性在玉米拔节期、大喇叭口期和成熟期显著高于常规耕作,脲酶活性在拔节期和孕穗期显著高于常规耕作,酸性磷酸酶活性在孕穗期和成熟期显著高于常规耕作(P＜0.05);在10～20cm土层,免耕土壤蔗糖酶活性在苗期、拔节期和大喇叭口期与常规耕作差异显著,脲酶活性除孕穗期外均显著高于常规耕作(P＜0.05);在20～30 cm土层,免耕土壤蔗糖酶活性在玉米各生育期均显著低于常规耕作,土壤脲酶活性在苗期、酸性磷酸酶活性在成熟期与常规耕作差异显著(P＜0.05).随土层深度的增加,免耕农田土壤酶活性总体呈下降趋势;常规耕作农田土壤蔗糖酶和酸性磷酸酶活性总体呈上升趋势,而脲酶活性呈下降趋势.     

长期免耕秸秆覆盖对寒地草甸土土壤物理性质的影响

黑龙江地处中温带地区,农田秸秆量大,不同秸秆还田技术与耕作制度结合对土壤物理性质的影响尚不明确.通过2010-2017年连续8年的田间定位试验,研究免耕条件下秸秆覆盖对草甸土土壤物理性质的影响.试验设秸秆无覆盖区(0%)、30%覆盖量(30%)、60%覆盖量(60%)、100%覆盖量(100%)4个处理.结果表明: 免耕条件下,秸秆覆盖可使土壤容重增加0.10～0.20 g·cm^-3,差异达到显著水平,并随覆盖量增加呈递增趋势;秸秆覆盖使土壤固相率比无覆盖增加2.5%～7.8%;土壤温度随秸秆覆盖量增加降幅增大,表层尤为明显,0～5 cm土层温度降幅1.87～2.90 ℃;土壤含水量随秸秆覆盖量增加呈增加趋势,与无覆盖相比差异显著,0～5 cm土层增加幅度为6.4%～10.2%;秸秆覆盖使土壤总孔隙和直径>0.05 mm通气孔隙减少,0.05～0.002 mm有效孔隙增加,覆盖量越大增加越明显,对土壤无效孔隙的影响不规律.长期秸秆覆盖增加了土壤紧实度和土壤水分,降低了土壤温度和土壤总孔隙,增加了0～5 cm土层土壤有效孔隙.     

长期保护性耕作对黄土高原旱地土壤水分及作物叶水势的影响

通过长期定位试验研究了黄土高原西部旱农区,传统耕作方式和5种保护性耕作措施对豌豆-小麦(P→W)和小麦-豌豆(W→P)轮作序列的耕层土壤水分和作物叶水势的影响。结果表明,与传统耕作(T)处理相比,保护性耕作都能不同程度地提高0—30 cm土层土壤含水量,增幅为3.29%—28.67%,其中免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)处理的土壤含水量在整个生育期内均为最高。豌豆和春小麦在不同生育期,叶水势的日变化趋势大致相同,均为清晨6:00最高,然后随着时间的推移而下降,大约在12:00—14:00之间达到最低,随后逐渐回升。春小麦各处理在拔节期和抽穗期的叶水势相对较高,孕穗期和开花期次之,灌浆期最低;叶片相对含水量在拔节期和抽穗期最高,开花期次之,灌浆期最低。豌豆各处理的叶水势均在出苗期和孕蕾期达到了最大值,分枝和开花期结荚期次之,灌浆成熟期相对较低;叶片相对含水量均随生育期的进程而呈下降趋势。整个生育期春小麦和豌豆各处理10:00的叶水势与0—30 cm平均土壤含水量之间显著相关,当土壤水分含量较低时,春小麦和豌豆叶水势与耕层土壤含水量的相关性达极显著水平。与传统耕作(T)相比,免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)、免耕+地膜覆盖(NTP)、免耕(NT)、传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)、地膜覆盖(TP)5种保护性耕作措施能不同程度的提高作物叶水势、叶片相对含水量和作物产量,其中免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)的优势最明显。     

黄土旱塬区免耕玉米田土壤呼吸对降雨的响应

在多年定位试验的基础上,采用LI-8150-16多通道土壤碳通量测量系统对传统耕作和免耕处理下玉米田的土壤呼吸进行了连续观测,以探讨不同耕作措施处理下土壤呼吸对降雨的响应。结果表明:降雨发生瞬间,土壤呼吸受应激反应影响迅速降低,传统耕作和免耕处理下分别较降雨前降低62.9%—92.9%和35.8%—56.9%;降雨后,传统耕作和免耕处理土壤呼吸的降幅范围分别为31.5%—89.2%和15.7%—59.9%;土壤体积含水量接近于18%时,传统耕作下土壤呼吸比免耕下高51.8%,当土壤体积含水量高于30%时,传统耕作下土壤呼吸比免耕处理下低43.0%,表明传统耕作土壤呼吸更易受土壤水分的影响,波动幅度大;传统耕作处理下土壤呼吸随土壤温度的升高而增大,免耕处理下土壤呼吸随土壤温度的升高变化不明显;土壤体积含水量较小(20%)时,不同耕作处理下土壤呼吸均随土壤含水量增加而增加,含水量较高(30%)时则均随土壤含水量的升高而减小,两种情况下均为免耕处理的变化速率更大;双因子线性模型可较好地描述玉米田土壤呼吸对温度和水分变化的响应。     

不同耕作方式对内蒙古旱作农田土壤微生物量和作物指标的影响

研究了不同耕作方式下土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷及玉米全生育期叶面积指数、株高和干物质积累量的动态变化,并对土壤指标与作物指标之间的关系进行分析.结果表明:免耕有利于提高土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷含量.不同处理微生物量均表现为:免耕留高茬覆盖>免耕留低茬覆盖>免耕留高茬>免耕留低茬>传统耕翻;土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷含量随土层深度的增加而呈降低趋势.除传统耕翻微生物量碳在10～20 cm土层深度含量提高外,其他处理微生物量碳、氮、磷均表现为0～10 cm>10～20 cm>20～30 cm>30～40cm土层深度;土壤生物量碳、氮、磷随季节的变化趋势基本一致,不同处理土壤生物量含量均为7月份含量最高、6月份次之、10月份最低;叶面积指数全生育期呈单峰曲线变化,株高和干物质积累呈S曲线变化.不同处理之间作物指标均表现为免耕留高茬覆盖>免耕留低茬覆盖>免耕留高茬>免耕留低茬>传统耕翻;土壤微生物量与作物指标之间的相关度较高,特别是微生物量磷,土壤微生物量在一定程度上可以反映作物的生长状况.研究结果能够很好地揭示在黄河流域内蒙古农田旱作区实施免耕的优势.

Abstract：

This paper studied the dynamic changes of soil microbial biomass and crop indices on a degraded rain-fed maize field in the Qingshuihe County of Inner Mongolia under no tillage with low stubble (NL), no tillage with high stubble (NH), no tillage with low stubble and residues (NLS), no tillage with high stubble and residues (NHS), and conventional tillage (CT). No tillage increased the soil microbial biomass C, N, and P, with the sequence of treatments NHS > NLS > NH > NL > CT. Except that the soil microbial biomass C in CT had an increase in 10-20 cm soil layer, the soil microbial biomass C, N, and P in all treatments decreased with soil depth. The soil microbial biomass C, N, and P had the same seasonal pattern, being the highest in July, secondly in June, and the lowest in October. The LAI in whole growth period varied in unimodal form, while the plant height and dry matter accumulation were in "S" form. All the crop indices followed the order of NHS > NLS > NH > NL > CT. Soil microbial biomass, its P in particular, had positive correlations with crop indices. Our results revealed the advantages of no tillage on rain-fed farmlands in Inner Mongolia.     

耕作措施对土壤水热特性和微生物生物量碳的影响

通过山西寿阳设置的8a田间定位试验,比较了全量秸秆还田、免耕覆盖和常规耕作3种耕作措施下土壤含水量、温度及土壤微生物生物量碳变化.结果表明:免耕覆盖与全量还田处理显著提高土壤含水量,与常规耕作相比表层土壤体积含水量在玉米苗期、拔节期、灌浆期和成熟期分别高出18％、22％、29％、21％和3％、10％、12％、13％,具有保水保墒的作用.在苗期不同耕作措施对土壤温度的影响达到显著水平,5 cm处免耕覆盖、全量还田与常规耕作处理土壤温度依次为:18.12、18.76和19.44℃,免耕覆盖和全量还田处理平均温度比常规耕作分别低1.32℃和0.69℃.土壤微生物量碳在整个生育期动态变化是首先迅速上升在玉米生育高峰期(拔节期)达到最高峰,然后开始下降,成熟期趋于平缓.免耕覆盖与全量还田处理下玉米各生育期土壤表层微生物量碳显著高于常规耕作,在苗期、拔节期、灌浆期和成熟期分别比常规耕作高出70％、40％、85％和30％和10％、20％、15％和15％.土壤微生物量碳与土壤温度和土壤含水量相关和极相关.     

不同耕作措施对黄土高原旱地土壤呼吸的影响

在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇设置不同耕作措施试验,对春小麦、豌豆双序列轮作下的土壤呼吸及其对应时间的冠层温度、土壤水分进行了测定.结果表明：春小麦和豌豆在整个生育期内的土壤呼吸都表现出不同的变化趋势,春小麦地土壤呼吸在拔节前期、灌浆期和收后分别达到高峰期;豌豆地土壤呼吸在五叶期、吐丝期、开花结荚期和收后分别达到高峰期.免耕秸秆覆盖处理和传统耕作处理下春小麦地土壤呼吸日变化明显,免耕秸秆覆盖处理明显低于传统耕作处理;而豌豆地土壤呼吸日变化不明显.春小麦和豌豆冠层温度均与土壤呼吸呈显著线性相关,春小麦孕穗期相关性最高,灌浆期次之;豌豆开花结荚期相关性最高,分枝期次之.土壤含水量与土壤呼吸间存在极显著的凸型抛物线型相关,保护性耕作下的相关性都高于传统耕作,其中免耕秸秆覆盖处理的春小麦地和豌豆地土壤含水量与土壤呼吸的相关性在各层次土壤中均为最高,10～30 cm土壤含水量对春小麦地土壤呼吸的影响最大,5～10 cm土壤含水量对豌豆地土壤呼吸的影响最大.与传统耕作相比,免耕秸秆覆盖、免耕、传统耕作秸秆还田、传统耕作结合地膜覆盖、免耕结合地膜覆盖5种保护性耕作措施都能不同程度地降低土壤呼吸,其中免耕秸秆覆盖优势最明显.     

耕作方式对黑土硬度和容重的影响

以吉林省德惠市8年黑土田间定位试验的小区土壤为研究对象,对不同耕作方式下土壤硬度和容重进行研究.结果表明:免耕增加了土壤硬度,主要表现在2.5 ～17.5 cm土层;在玉米连作和玉米-大豆轮作下,苗眼处免耕处理的最大土壤硬度分别为2816和1931 kPa,秋翻处理下分别为2660和2051 kPa,对作物生长均没有限制作用;秋翻处理的土壤硬度曲线随垄形而变化,免耕处理的土壤硬度曲线起伏较小.与秋翻相比,免耕显著增加了5～20 cm土层的土壤容重.5 ～ 30 cm土层的土壤容重在免耕处理下变化幅度较小,在秋翻处理下随土壤深度的增加逐渐增大.土壤容重与土壤硬度之间相关性不显著.     

The effects of stubble retention and tillage practices on surface soil structure and hydraulic conductivity of a loess soil

The current cropping system of excessive tillage and stubble removal in the northwestern Loess Plateau of China is clearly unsustainable. A better understanding of tillage and stubble management on surface soil structure is vital for the development of effective soil conservation practices in the long term. Changes in surface soil structure and hydraulic properties were measured after 4 years of stubble management (stubble retained vs. stubble removed) under contrasting tillage practices (no-tillage vs. conventional tillage) in a silt loam soil (Los Orthic Entisol) in Dingxi, Gansu, the northwestern Loess Plateau, China. Our results indicated that after 4 years small but significant changes in soil properties were observed amongst the different tillage and stubble treatments. Surface soil (0–5 cm) under no-tillage with stubble retention had the highest water stability of macroaggregates (>250 μm), soil organic carbon (SOC) and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Significant correlation was found between water stable macro-aggregates and soil organic carbon content, indicating the importance of the latter on soil structural stability. The improvement in soil structure and stability was confirmed by higher soil hydraulic conductivity measurements. Consistently higher K_sat was detected in the no tillage with stubble retained soil compared to other treatments. Therefore, no-tillage with stubble retention practice is an effective management technique for improving physical quality of this fragile soil in the long term.     

不同保护性耕作措施对旱作农田土壤水分的影响

研究了黄土高原西部旱农区传统耕作措施和五种保护性耕作措施对土壤水分垂直分布、动态变化、作物耗水量、水分利用效率及作物产量的影响。结果表明,不同保护性耕作措施对表层0~10cm土壤水分含量影响较大,免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)在作物播种期可以显著增加播种期表层土壤含水量。0~200cm土壤剖面贮水量年变化分春夏作物旺盛生长失墒期(5月中旬~7月中旬)、夏秋雨季增墒期(7月中旬~10月下旬)和冬春稳墒期(11月~翌年5月上旬)3个阶段。尽管不同保护性耕作措施对0~200cm剖面贮水量影响不大,但作物耗水量却存在显著差异。免耕秸秆覆盖在增加作物耗水量的同时也提高了作物产量以及水分利用效率。地膜覆盖在有些年份也有利于降水的高效利用和作物产量的提高,但与秸秆覆盖相比不利于土壤肥力的持续提高。而且,如果种植小麦,出苗前若一次性降水较多时地膜覆盖将造成严重板结,影响出苗,进而降低产量和水分利用效率。因此,在黄土高原西部旱农区实施免耕 秸秆覆盖的保护性耕作措施,既有利于作物对有限降水的高效利用,提高作物产量,也可以促进农业可持续发展。     

不同耕作方式下草甸栗钙土燕麦田土壤微生物特征

河北坝上地区高寒半干旱的独特生态环境,土地沙化风蚀严重,作物产量低,土壤微生物的活动尚未有深入研究,尤其是人为干扰下的土壤微生物在作物生长季的动态变化。为了明确耕作方式对草甸栗钙土土壤微生物性状的影响特征,依托定位12a的免耕、深松、常规耕作田间试验基础,通过辅助设置12a免耕、深松后的翻耕处理,监测了燕麦田土壤微生物量碳、活跃微生物量和土壤呼吸速率等性状。结果表明,土壤微生物量碳与活跃微生物量围绕燕麦抽穗期为"W型"时序变化,长期免耕与深松下呈现0—10 cm表层土壤富集微生物量碳的空间分布特征。免耕与深松有利于提高0—10 cm土层土壤微生物量,多年免耕和深松后翻耕能使土层间土壤活跃微生物量差异减小。燕麦田土壤呼吸速率呈现"U型"时序变化,免耕0—10 cm土层呼吸速率具有较其他耕作方式更高的趋势。在燕麦生育期内,土壤呼吸商一直处于较低而平稳的水平,燕麦收获后进入土壤微生物的高活性期;0—10 cm土层翻耕与多年免耕与深松后的翻耕处理土壤呼吸商有高于免耕处理的趋势。翻耕对于促进冷凉区土壤库存养分的活化与适时供应具有重要作用。     

稻田实行保护性耕作对水稻产量、土壤理化及生物学性状的影响

在江西双季稻田进行长期田间定位试验,分析了多年保护性耕作对水稻产量、土壤理化性状及生物学性状的影响。连续8a稻田保护性耕作处理的平均产量高于传统耕作4.46%—8.79%,各处理的有效穗数、每穗粒数和结实率均高于对照,而各处理间穗长和千粒重差异不显著。实行稻田保护性耕作处理的土壤容重低于传统耕作3.6%—5.6%,而总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度分别高出传统耕作1.6%—17.4%、2.4%—16.7%。与传统耕作相比,连续8a保护性耕作显著提高了土壤有机质(2.9%—10.0%)、有效磷(4.8%—31.6%)、速效钾(9.7%—25.7%)。在2005年免耕+插秧的土壤真菌数量最多,显著高于对照处理51.6%,免耕+抛秧在2008年达到最大,显著高于对照处理54.1%。2012年免耕+抛秧、免耕+插秧显著高于对照126.1%、121.1%;另外,各处理间过氧化氢酶、脲酶活性均差异不显著。8a间土壤转化酶活性变化范围在0.292—0.451 mg/g之间,其中2005—2007、2012年均是免耕+抛秧达到最大,与对照相比,增加范围为72.7%—137.7%,且差异显著(P0.05)。因此,实行稻田保护性耕作是适合江南丘陵区双季稻区农业可持续发展的有效模式之一,其中免耕+抛秧和免耕+插秧两种方式效果最为显著。     

Relationship between soil solution aluminium and low molecular weight organic acids in a conservation cropping system

Soil solution and solid phase analyses were compared for stubble standing and stubble burnt systems on an acid, acidified and limed Alfisol in north-eastern Victoria. Exchangeable (1 M KCl) aluminium (Al), soil solution total and monomeric Al, pH (water) and soil solution pH were measured to identify any differences in soil acidification between the stubble burnt and the stubble standing treatments. All measures of Al increased with soil depth down to 10 cm in all stubble treatments and decreased in the 10–20 cm soil depth with the exception of lime treatments. Concentrations of low molecular weight organic acids in the soil solution were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Aromatic and aliphatic acids were distributed throughout the soil depth (0–20 cm) for the stubble standing treatments but were confined to the 0–5 cm soil depth for the stubble burnt treatment. In this short term field trial (2 years for stubble management), the data suggest that the conventional practice of stubble burning was more acidifying than the soil conservation practice of stubble standing, over the 0–20 cm soil depth for the lime (6 t ha^-1) treatments.     

Parasitism of the wheat stem sawfly (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) by Bracon cephi and B. lissogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in wheat fields bordering tilled and untilled fallow in Montana

We evaluated wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, parasitism, infestation, and sawfly-cut stems in wheat fields bordering intensely tilled (no visible stubble residue), minimally tilled (>75% stubble residue visible), and untilled (chemical fallow, herbicide fallow management) summer fallow fields in north-central and south-central Montana. No difference in sawfly parasitism or sawfly-cut stems was found between fields bordering minimally tilled and fields bordering untilled summer fallow. Sawfly parasitism in fields bordering untilled summer fallow was greater than in fields bordering intensely tilled summer fallow at six of the eight sites examined. Sawfly-cut stems were greater in the field bordering intensely tilled fallow at four sites, with no difference in sawfly-cut stems between the intensely tilled and untilled field at the other four sites. Although it has never been reported, we have observed that many sawfly stubs are completely buried. Therefore, we measured the depth of sawfly stubs in four untilled fields in Broadwater County, MT. Two-thirds of the stubs were completely buried (206 of 300) with an average depth of 6 mm. Intensive tillage, which results in soil-covered stubble, is not an effective sawfly control practice, because sawflies typically overwinter below ground and upon emergence must dig to reach the soil surface. However, Bracon cephi (Gahan) and Bracon lissogaster Muesebeck overwinter above ground in stems and might be unable to dig to the soil surface if buried. The elimination of intensive tillage in favor of chemical fallow should result in greater sawfly parasitism over time. Producers replacing minimal tillage with chemical fallow should see no effect on sawfly parasitism.     

不同保护性耕作措施对武威绿洲灌区冬小麦水分利用的影响

2006—2008年通过田间定位试验,研究了武威绿洲灌区不同耕作措施（传统耕作、秸杆翻压、免耕不覆盖、免耕秸杆立茬、免耕秸杆覆盖）对冬小麦土壤水分空间分布、动态变化、作物耗水量、水分利用效率和产量的影响.结果表明：返青至拔节期,免耕秸杆覆盖（NTS）和免耕秸杆立茬（NTSS）处理显著提高了0～30 cm土壤贮水量,处理间差异较大,在小麦拔节后差异变小;返青至成熟期,NTS和NTSS处理30～150 cm土壤贮水量都大于传统耕作处理（T）;播种期,NTS、NTSS和NT（免耕不覆盖）处理0～150 cm土层总贮水量分别比T处理增加29.55～34.69、17.32～21.79和0.89～15.68 mm,收获期分别增加37.59～38.35、5.70～22.14和4.61～13.93 mm,且随着土层深度的增加处理间土壤贮水量差异增大.NTS、NTSS、NT和TIS（秸杆翻压）处理小麦产量分别比T处理提高15.65%～16.84%、6.98%～12.75%、5.88%～11.74%和3.92%～8.16%,水分利用效率分别提高17.15%～17.52%、7.75%～9.65%、8.24%～10.00%和4.17%～9.91%.免耕秸杆覆盖（NTS）和免耕秸杆立茬（NTSS）处理提高了冬小麦产量和水分利用效率,是改善该区域水资源匮乏的有效耕作措施.     

Plant development,and N and P use of winter barley

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Kamiak) was grown at three landscape positions of a representative toposequence in the Palouse region of eastern Washington. This region is typified by rolling topography marked by severe erosion of steep slope positions that has altered soil productivity in the landscape. The objectives of this research were to identify soil factors which limit plant development and nutrient use efficiency in the eroded slope positions, and to suggest potential management practices for overcoming these limitations. Direct drilling into cereal stubble resulted in retardation of early plant development of winter barley. Lower N and P accumulation by early tillering under no-till conditions were related these effects on dry matter. These reductions were generally overcome by anthesis. Comparison of tillage systems demonstrated that direct drilling into crop residues increased yields by 16% over conventional tillage at an eroded ridgetop position of one of the two toposequences examined. Benefits derived in the no-till system under the high N rates occurred during grainfilling, as indicated by greater numbers of heads and higher kernel weights at final harvest. Tillage system had no effect on grain production at other landscape positions that featured higher overall yields under either tillage system. Short-term benefits of no-till systems may be most evident at slope positions where water use is most limited.