crop and Tillage Management Practices Impact on Soil Properties

Crop and tillage management practices control the changes in soil properties. The purpose of this study was to compare the dynamics of soil properties across six management systems that differed in crop type and tillage practices. Soil properties tested were soil organic matter(SOM), soil pH, macroporosity, and soil water holding capacity(SWHC). The study was conducted in Morris, Illinois. The crop management systems included alfalfa (AR), grass hay (GH), no-till corn (CNT), conventional till corn (CT), no-till soybeans (BNT), and conventional till soybeans (BT). Management histories from 2023 to 2026 differed in crop rotation, tillage, fertilizer use, herbicide applications, and residue management. Four soil samples (4 replications) were collected from each management system and evaluated for selected soil properties. Results showed differences in soil properties among the six systems. Soil pH ranged from approximately 5.7 to 6.9, with the highest pH observed in no-till corn (6.9) and the lowest in conventional till corn (5.7). Soil water-holding capacity ranged from approximately 32.2% to 41.0%, with grass hay having the highest value (41.0%) and the corn systems having the lowest (32.2%). Soil organic matter ranged from approximately 7.4% to 13.5%, with grass hay (13.5%) having the highest SOM and conventional till corn (7.4%) having the lowest. Overall, the results indicate that cropping and tillage management practices can influence important physical and chemical soil characteristics. Evaluating these soil properties can improve management decisions and support for future productive and sustainable agricultural practices. Keywords: Conventional tillage, Crop management, No-till, Soil pH, Soil Water holding capacity