Tillage-Induced Changes in Soil Structure and Pore Space Distribution.
Durga Bastola
Murray State's Digital Commons (Murray State University)
Urban Farm DB summary
This study evaluated the effects of contrasting tillage intensities on soil structural characteristics and pore space distribution across six agricultural systems at Pullen Farm in Murray, Kentucky. Soil samples were collected from low-disturbance no-till systems and high-disturbance conventional tillage systems to determine bulk density, total porosity, and soil water-holding capacity. Results showed that no-till systems maintained significantly lower bulk density and greater total porosity, while conventionally tilled systems exhibited increased bulk density and reduced pore space. This indicates that tillage-induced disturbance directly modifies soil structure and pore continuity, leading to reduced pore space and impaired water dynamics.