Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Sophomore
Major
Agricultural Science/ Agronomy
2nd Student Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
2nd Student Major
Agricultural Science/ Agronomy
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Lin Handayani Ph.D
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Evaluating Soil Responses to Three Different Tillage Practices
Luke Burchett, Logan Renfrow, and Cordale Straub
Mentor: Dr. Iin Handayani Ph.D
Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Kentucky, USA
ABSTRACT
Tillage systems can greatly affect soil health by changing its structure, chemistry, and biological activity. This study examined how soil organic carbon (SOC), soil pH, soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM) responds under three tillage systems: no-till, biannual tillage, and conventional tillage. Soil samples were taken from a 1–7.6 cm depth during September 2025 across three locations. The no-till site was located in Caldwell County, Kentucky, on an irrigated double-crop soybean field. The biannual tillage site was in Ohio County, Kentucky, on a shelled corn field, and the conventional tillage site was in Posey County, Indiana, also on a double-crop soybean field. Each site included two cropping systems: a wheat cover crop and a no-cover control. Results showed that SOC was highest in the no-till system (3.63%), moderate in the conventional tillage system (2.74%), and lowest in biannual tillage (2.49%). Total soil porosity was higher in conventional tillage plots without cover crops (49.58), while no-till (40.13%) and biannual systems (43.15%) had lower average soil porosity percentages. Soil pH ranged from 6.3-7.1 across all systems, with the lowest pH occurring in conventional till systems. Conventional tillage soils showed the highest water retention among the management systems, with SWHC at 42.91% and SWFC at 37.40%. Following that was biannual tillage systems, with SWHC at 34.03% and SWFC at 27.88%, while no-till soils had the lowest values of 32.62% and 27.02%, respectively. Overall, no-till systems provided the best soils in terms of SOM. However, other properties were better in convential tillage. The benefits of our research suggest that the correct use of tillage practices can help sustain soil quality compared to other agricultural practices.
Keywords: biannual tillage, conventional tillage, no-till, soil organic carbon, tillage systems
Fall Scholars Week 2025
Research Poster Competition and Presentations, Soil/Crop Management (Agriculture) and Sustainability
Included in
Evaluating Soil Responses to Three Different Tillage Practices
Evaluating Soil Responses to Three Different Tillage Practices
Luke Burchett, Logan Renfrow, and Cordale Straub
Mentor: Dr. Iin Handayani Ph.D
Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Kentucky, USA
ABSTRACT
Tillage systems can greatly affect soil health by changing its structure, chemistry, and biological activity. This study examined how soil organic carbon (SOC), soil pH, soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM) responds under three tillage systems: no-till, biannual tillage, and conventional tillage. Soil samples were taken from a 1–7.6 cm depth during September 2025 across three locations. The no-till site was located in Caldwell County, Kentucky, on an irrigated double-crop soybean field. The biannual tillage site was in Ohio County, Kentucky, on a shelled corn field, and the conventional tillage site was in Posey County, Indiana, also on a double-crop soybean field. Each site included two cropping systems: a wheat cover crop and a no-cover control. Results showed that SOC was highest in the no-till system (3.63%), moderate in the conventional tillage system (2.74%), and lowest in biannual tillage (2.49%). Total soil porosity was higher in conventional tillage plots without cover crops (49.58), while no-till (40.13%) and biannual systems (43.15%) had lower average soil porosity percentages. Soil pH ranged from 6.3-7.1 across all systems, with the lowest pH occurring in conventional till systems. Conventional tillage soils showed the highest water retention among the management systems, with SWHC at 42.91% and SWFC at 37.40%. Following that was biannual tillage systems, with SWHC at 34.03% and SWFC at 27.88%, while no-till soils had the lowest values of 32.62% and 27.02%, respectively. Overall, no-till systems provided the best soils in terms of SOM. However, other properties were better in convential tillage. The benefits of our research suggest that the correct use of tillage practices can help sustain soil quality compared to other agricultural practices.
Keywords: biannual tillage, conventional tillage, no-till, soil organic carbon, tillage systems