How does the first year tilling a long-term no-tillage field impact soluble nutrient losses in runoff?

Conservation tillage practices are commonly used to reduce erosion; however, in fields that have been in no-tillage (NT) for long periods, compaction from traffic can restrict infiltration. Rotational tillage (RT) is a common practice that producers use in the central corn-belt of the United States, and could potentially reduce soluble nutrient loads to surface waters. The objectives of this study were to determine the first year impacts of converting from long-term NT to (RT) on N and P losses through runoff. Plots (2 m × 1 m) were constructed in two fields that had been in NT corn–soybean rotation for the previous 15 years. One field remained in NT management, while RT was initiated prior to planting corn in the other field using a soil finisher. Variable-intensity rainfall simulations occurred before and after fertilization with urea (224 kg N ha−1) and triple superphosphate (112 kg P ha−1). Rainfall was simulated at (1) 50 mm h−1 for 50 min; (2) 75 mm h−1 for 15 min; (3) 25 mm h−1 for 15 min; (4) 100 mm h−1 for 15 min. Runoff volumes and nutrient (NH4-N, NO3-N and dissolved P [DP]) concentrations were greater from the NT field than the RT field before and after fertilization.Dissolved P concentrations in runoff prior to fertilization were greater during the 50 mm h−1 rainfall period (0.09 mg L−1) compared to the other periods (0.03 mg L−1). Nutrient concentrations increased by 10–100-fold when comparing samples taken after fertilization to those taken prior to fertilization. Nutrient loads were greater prior to and after fertilization from the NT treatment. Prior to fertilization, NT resulted in 83 g ha−1 greater NH4-N and 32.4 g ha−1 greater dissolved P losses than RT treatment. After fertilization, NT was observed to lose 5.3 kg ha−1 more NH4-N, 1.3 kg ha−1 more NO3-N, and 2.4 kg ha−1 more dissolved P than RT. It is typically difficult to manage land to minimize P and N losses simultaneously; however, in the short term, tillage following long-term NT resulted in lowering the risk of transport of soluble N and P to surface water.