[Effects of conservation tillage on the composition of soil exchangeable base]

Taking the soil in Zhangwu County of Liaoning Province as test object, a comparative study was made to understand the composition of soil exchangeable base under traditional tillage and 6-year conservation tillage (no-tillage plus straw mulch). Comparing with traditional tillage, conservation tillage increased the total amount of exchangeable base (SEB) and the contents of exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg in top (0-15 cm) soil, suggesting its positive effect in increasing soil nutrient holding capacity and buffering ability. This effect had a close relationship with the changes of soil organic matter and clay contents, according to correlation analysis. In addition, the K/SEB and Ca/Mg ratios were higher, while the (Ca+Mg)/SEB, Ca/K, and Mg/K ratios were lower under conservation tillage than under traditional tillage, illustrating that the effects of conservation tillage on soil exchangeable base were mainly presented in the relative enrichment of soil exchangeable Ca and K, especially K. Conservation tillage increased the stratification ratio (0-5 cm/5-15 cm and 0-5 cm/15-30 cm) of soil exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg, and SEB, suggesting the increase of the vertical variability of SEB in plough layer.